Castlehaven achieved a 0-16 victory over Nemo Rangers during the Cork SFC final, marking the second time in its history for consecutive wins. The win was recounted by player Mark Collins from the moment the cup was awarded, amidst a sea of Castlehaven enthusiasts. Their celebrations were highlighted by their disregard for instructions to stay off the pitch.
Castlehaven games are renown for their post-match sprightly gatherings, deepening the sense of camaraderie amongst its supporters. Such festive spirit resonated in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, as the stadium lights blinked and dimmed to the rhythm.
Despite being a crucial part of Cork’s top-tier football for over 25 years, this represents only Castlehaven’s second back-to-back win. A game, that initially seemed hard to predict, was clarified within the final 10 minutes.
In the second half, Castlehaven escalated their game intensity against Nemo Rangers. It was like a reformation from the first half, with increased tackling and strategic pressure. This was a stark contrast to the first half, described by Collins as being too pleasant and dotted with accidental hits.
During the first half, Castlehaven managed one turnover, intensifying their performance in the second half. They asserted control over Nemo, employing a two-three tackle strategy with accuracy. When Brian Hurley secured the lead for Castlehaven, it wasn’t relinquished.
Reflecting on the game, Collins noted the unique nature of finals, fraught with nervous energy and the fear of mistakes. He admitted the first half was marked by a lack of contact, a factor targeted for improvement in the second half. Infusing more direct contact and pressure on Nemo, Castlehaven shifted gears and secured their victory.
Eamon Fitzmaurice, a key figure in Jim Gavin’s FRC, was spotted amongst the spectators, being commemorated during the half-time break as a member of the honoured UCC team that claimed county victory a quarter of a century ago. Despite being a sport currently under threat and going through transformative changes, it was a gratifying sight to witness.
Interestingly, both teams had been conditioned for offensive plays within acceptable boundaries, and each responded to the opposition’s kickouts, leading to several ball battles and mishaps. Dead-ball point shots were only taken after 10 points had been scored in both halves, with relatively few frees in the opener.
The vibe was electric, with both teams demonstrating some nerve, even if no outright risk was taken.
In the first half, Nemo had the wind in their favour, however, it was more like a breeze compared to the storm that marred the previous week’s hurling final. The urban team had less ball possession but showed shrewd handling and bursts of energy.
Bryan Hayes delivered an impressive first-half point while Ronan Dalton and Paul Kerrigan each added three and one points respectively. However, Nemo didn’t make the most out of their first half, as they never led by more than two points. They had a slender lead going into the break, 0-8 to 0-7.
Damien Cahalane played the liberator in the first half, cleverly deploying kick passes to the wings, with his injured left calf tightly bandaged. He didn’t return for the second half, but his place was taken by his sibling Conor, who recently recovered from a broken wrist. Conor injected vigour and focus into Castlehaven’s onslaught, scoring a remarkable point, giving them a two-point edge early into the second half.
With both teams replacing their players as the match progressed, the champions managed to squeeze three points out of their substitutes, which made a crucial difference. Michael Hurley, the previous year’s man of the match, contributed four points this time around, while his brother Brian really hit his stride in the second half.
In the closing moments of the match, Nemo put the Castlehaven defence under intense pressure, even prompting a savvy save from Darragh Cahalane. However, Castlehaven managed to rack up the final quarter of the points and left Nemo without a response.
The Castlehaven squad included Darragh Cahalane along with J O’Regan, Damien Cahalane, T O’Mahony, J O’Neill, R Maguire (0-1), M Collins, A Whelton, R Minihane, J O’Driscoll, B Hurley (0-4, inclusive of three frees), S Browne (0-1), C Maguire, J Cahalane (0-3), and M Hurley (0-4). Substitutes included C Cahalane (0-1) who replaced Damien Cahalane at half-time; C O’Driscoll (0-1) coming on for Minihane at 46 minutes; M Maguire (0-1) in place of Brown at 52 minutes; J Walsh replacing O’Neill at 60 minutes, and R Whelton on for M Hurley three minutes into stoppage time.
Nemo Rangers lined up with M Martin, E Nation, B Murphy, C Molloy, S Cronin, K Fulignati (0-1), K O’Donovan, A O’Donovan, B Cripps, J Horgan, R Dalton (0-3), C Horgan (0-1), B Hayes (0-2), M Cronin (0-2, one free), P Kerrigan (0-2, one free). Substitutes were R Corkery who took over for Hayes at 45 minutes; L Horgan coming in for J Horgan at 45 minutes; C McCartan replacing O’Donovan at 54 minutes and A Cronin in for Murphy at 60 minutes. James Regan officiated the match.