St. Nicks Teams

St Nick's 3-10 Carbery Rangers 2-9

After an entertaining hour of football where two teams moved the ball at speed and worked a host of fine scores for fun, St Nick's came out winners. They were more clinical with their chances and because when the game was there for the taking, they hit 1-6 to nothing in a blistering 10-minute spell in the second half.

It's just possible they came into this as slight underdogs but they looked as confident and assured in themselves as any team has a right to be for a first round championship game in April. And just like last year's dismantling of Ilen Rovers, they've come home from Bandon with another scalp.

They did it with direct football for the most part. Nick's sent David Brosnan into full-forward and weren't shy about hitting him with fast, long ball (good quality ball too); John Kearney ran along the line, picked up on any breaks and was generally very lively. Ross simply couldn't cope in defence and looked like coughing up scores anytime Nick's attacked — more importantly, they looked like coughing up goals.

The opening goal came early and was a scrappy one that could have been dealt with, a Robert Brosnan free that fell to Gavin Moylan who forced it to the net. But John Kearney had a half-chance that was blocked soon after and then the second arrived, David Brosnan winning one of those good direct passes into the corner, turning his man and cutting in along the line before hammering past the Ross keeper. Two goals in the opening quarter. The third goal both summed and wrapped the game up. Ten minutes were left when David Brosnan made a long ball his again, handpassed to Paul O'Brien and the midfielder twisted his foot around to dink a lovely goal and make it 3-8 to 1-7. It was this ability to hit goals and carve through the losers' defence — especially in that match-winning quarter — that won the scores necessary.

It was 2-4 to 1-7 early in the second period but then Nick's powered on, kicked two frees and ran right through the middle for two scores, had that goal and then two more handy points where they were creating overlaps and making an extra man at will. At 3-10 to 1-7, it was all over. Not that it was clearcut or anything. For long spells of this one Carbery Rangers dominated around midfield, moved the ball through three or four players in neat patterns and looked purposeful and comfortable in possession. Seamus Hayes was the best player on the field, winning constant ball at full-forward and kicking two marvellous points off his left. Dec Hayes put plenty ball through his hands from centre-forward and Kevin MacMahon looked like opening Nick's up anytime he powered onto ball through the centre. One problem was that on a number of occasions, MacMahon made runs only to not get a pass or found himself in space and Ross just couldn't find him with the ball in time. Another problem was the chances missed. Carbery Rangers had six wides before Nick's had any (it finished 12-6), missed two massive chances with the match level early in the second period and could in truth have been ahead at half-time rather than level if they'd knocked over a few of those opportunities.

Nick's defence, especially the likes of Shane Kennefick and Niall Horgan, must get credit too for very rarely letting the West Cork team shoot when not under pressure. The first half was lively with lots of open football. Nick's got those early goals to make it 2-2 to 0-4, the impressive Robert Brosnan kicked a point and their tactic of hitting the full-forward line often and early was causing real problems. Carbery Rangers had plenty possession though with MacMahon, Brian Shanahan and the two Hayes prominent and worked a lovely goal — a small blunder by the winners' defence letting Declan Hayes run through and lay on a chance for Maurice Moore to power in. 2-3 to 1-6 at the break and still level shortly after. Then that Nick's takeover, where they owned the middle of the pitch for a spell and they ended up winners. Deservedly so.

Scorers for St Nick's: J Kearney 0-5 (0-4frees), P O'Brien 1-2, D Brosnan and G Moylan 1-0 each, R Brosnan 0-2 (0-1f), G Callinan 0-1. Carbery Rangers: J Hayes 0-5 (0-4frees), S Hayes 1-2, M Moore 1-1, J Murphy 0-1(free)

ST NICK'S: P Cuthbert; K Spain, D Og O'Donovan, S Kennefick; L Leahy, N Horgan, S O'Donoghue; P O'Brien, R Brosnan; G Callinan, D Busteed, N Harte; J Kearney, D Brosnan, G Moylan. Sub: D Goggin.

CARBERY RANGERS: M Moloney; E Favier, S Hayes, E Murphy; P Whyte, M Mennis, J Murphy; M O'Sullivan, K MacMahon; B Shanahan, D Hayes, J McCarthy; J Hayes, S Hayes, M Moore. Subs: A Roche for Murphy, N Hayes for McCarthy. Referee: P Downey (Inniscarra). \

Barry O'Donovan Evening Echo



				*2007 Senior Championship*

	*St Nick's 3-10 Carbery Rangers 2-9* After an entertaining hour of football where two teams moved the ball at speed and worked a host of fine scores for fun, St Nick's came out winners. They were more clinical with their chances and because when the game was there for the taking, they hit 1-6 to nothing in a blistering 10-minute spell in the second half. It's just possible they came into this as slight underdogs but they looked as confident and assured in themselves as any team has a right to be for a first round championship game in April. And just like last year's dismantling of Ilen Rovers, they've come home from Bandon with another scalp. They did it with direct football for the most part. Nick's sent David Brosnan into full-forward and weren't shy about hitting him with fast, long ball (good quality ball too); John Kearney ran along the line, picked up on any breaks and was generally very lively. Ross simply couldn't cope in defence and looked like coughing up scores anytime Nick's attacked — more importantly, they looked like coughing up goals. The opening goal came early and was a scrappy one that could have been dealt with, a Robert Brosnan free that fell to Gavin Moylan who forced it to the net. But John Kearney had a half-chance that was blocked soon after and then the second arrived, David Brosnan winning one of those good direct passes into the corner, turning his man and cutting in along the line before hammering past the Ross keeper. Two goals in the opening quarter. The third goal both summed and wrapped the game up. Ten minutes were left when David Brosnan made a long ball his again, handpassed to Paul O'Brien and the midfielder twisted his foot around to dink a lovely goal and make it 3-8 to 1-7. It was this ability to hit goals and carve through the losers' defence — especially in that match-winning quarter — that won the scores necessary. It was 2-4 to 1-7 early in the second period but then Nick's powered on, kicked two frees and ran right through the middle for two scores, had that goal and then two more handy points where they were creating overlaps and making an extra man at will. At 3-10 to 1-7, it was all over. Not that it was clearcut or anything. For long spells of this one Carbery Rangers dominated around midfield, moved the ball through three or four players in neat patterns and looked purposeful and comfortable in possession. Seamus Hayes was the best player on the field, winning constant ball at full-forward and kicking two marvellous points off his left. Dec Hayes put plenty ball through his hands from centre-forward and Kevin MacMahon looked like opening Nick's up anytime he powered onto ball through the centre. One problem was that on a number of occasions, MacMahon made runs only to not get a pass or found himself in space and Ross just couldn't find him with the ball in time. Another problem was the chances missed. Carbery Rangers had six wides before Nick's had any (it finished 12-6), missed two massive chances with the match level early in the second period and could in truth have been ahead at half-time rather than level if they'd knocked over a few of those opportunities. Nick's defence, especially the likes of Shane Kennefick and Niall Horgan, must get credit too for very rarely letting the West Cork team shoot when not under pressure. The first half was lively with lots of open football. Nick's got those early goals to make it 2-2 to 0-4, the impressive Robert Brosnan kicked a point and their tactic of hitting the full-forward line often and early was causing real problems. Carbery Rangers had plenty possession though with MacMahon, Brian Shanahan and the two Hayes prominent and worked a lovely goal — a small blunder by the winners' defence letting Declan Hayes run through and lay on a chance for Maurice Moore to power in. 2-3 to 1-6 at the break and still level shortly after. Then that Nick's takeover, where they owned the middle of the pitch for a spell and they ended up winners. Deservedly so. Scorers for St Nick's: J Kearney 0-5 (0-4frees), P O'Brien 1-2, D Brosnan and G Moylan 1-0 each, R Brosnan 0-2 (0-1f), G Callinan 0-1. Carbery Rangers: J Hayes 0-5 (0-4frees), S Hayes 1-2, M Moore 1-1, J Murphy 0-1(free) ST NICK'S: P Cuthbert; K Spain, D Og O'Donovan, S Kennefick; L Leahy, N Horgan, S O'Donoghue; P O'Brien, R Brosnan; G Callinan, D Busteed, N Harte; J Kearney, D Brosnan, G Moylan. Sub: D Goggin. CARBERY RANGERS: M Moloney; E Favier, S Hayes, E Murphy; P Whyte, M Mennis, J Murphy; M O'Sullivan, K MacMahon; B Shanahan, D Hayes, J McCarthy; J Hayes, S Hayes, M Moore. Subs: A Roche for Murphy, N Hayes for McCarthy. Referee: P Downey (Inniscarra). \ Barry O'Donovan Evening Echo