Nemo Rangers dethrone St Finbarr's for 24th Cork SFC crown

Nemo Rangers captain Stephen Cronin lifts the Andy Scannell Cup ©INPHO/David Ribeiro

Nemo Rangers reclaimed the Cork senior football championship title with a hard-fought 1-19 to 2-12 win over city rivals St Finbarr’s at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Mark Cronin led the way for the victors with an outstanding 0-8, while Luke Horgan’s first-half goal helped Nemo establish a 1-8 to 0-5 lead by the halfway stage.

Briaín Murphy hit a superb two-pointer after the restart as Nemo threatened to pull clear, but the holders responded through Brian Hayes, who struck the net before substitute Cillian Myers-Murray added a two-pointer.

John Wigginton-Barrett found the net after that as the Barrs battled back to within a point to set-up a tense finish.

Myers-Murray and William Buckley continued to trouble the Nemo defence, but Cronin’s accuracy from frees, along with a late point from Ross Corkery, ensured that the record 24-time champions held on.

Nemo now turn their attention to the Munster club championship where they will welcome Tipperary's Loughmore-Castleiney in a quarter-final clash on November 8th.