A SLEEPING CORK giant may be awaking from an extended slumber.
Nemo Rangers, 18-time county SFC champions, six more than anybody else, are within an hour of a first success since 2010.
Beaten finalists two years ago against today’s opponents Castlehaven, Rangers are planning to exact revenge.
They carry a huge weight of tradition into the Páirc Uí Rinn decider. Well out on top on the Leeside roll of honour, Nemo are also the proud holders of 13 Munster titles and 7 All-Irelands.
“At the start of the year, we always have the ambition to be there on county final day,” says club chairman Des McCarthy.
“That is the standard we set for ourselves. As the year progressed, we were fairly hammered with injuries.
“A couple of players had emigrated as well and mid season, things went off the rails a little bit, some doubts were creeping in.
“Between injuries and guys tied up with Cork, and our own U21 football team, we were struggling to get ten fellas out training.
“I think at one stage during the summer, we were short 13 of the panel that played in the final two years ago.
“But since the drawn match against Douglas in the fourth round, where 10/15 minutes in we looked like going out, we turned around and hung in there, could have stolen the match in the end but it was great that we got a replay.
“It helped us to refocus and we started to get fellas back after injury.
“We beat Douglas in the replay, had a relatively easy run of it against St Nick’s in the quarter-final before getting off to a flier against Carbery Rangers, although hanging on at the end a little bit. It certainly has brought us on.”
A clash with Castlehaven is a “big step up” for Nemo, McCarthy accepts.
“They have been fantastic in the last four or five years in particular, a lot of really good players, the Hurleys, Mark Collins, Shane Nolan, they have some great players and a very good goalkeeper with a great kickout.
“It’s a big step up and the bookies have Castlehaven as favourites – they don’t get it wrong that often. It’s going to be a big challenge.”
Behind the scenes, preparations are in full swing at the spectacular Nemo Rangers complex.
“One of the members was speaking to me recently, remarking that we’re in the county senior final, beaten in the U21 final after a replay, our minors were in a semi-final and our U16s are premier football champions.
“We were also beaten in four city championship finals in the last couple of months.
“It’s a bad year, really, isn’t it?! But that’s just the way it is, we have a standard and we try to keep it there.
“We hosted a group from Australia during the week, an amateur football club from Victoria. They played a Cork U21 selection in compromise rules. The place is a hive of activity.”
It may get even busier on Sunday night, if Rangers can climb back to the top of the tree in Cork.
