St. Nicks Teams

Quarter Final Report

Nick's set up huge Nemo showdown

St Nick's 2-9 Carrigdhoun 1-8

Evening Echo Senior Football Championship quarter-final - Éamonn Murphy.

ST NICK'S are back in the last four of the county championship race for the first time in 34 years after a pretty-convincing win over Carrigdhoun at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night. It took three games to separate these sides at the third round stage last autumn but Carrigdhoun never matched any of their performances from that series, which culminated in a win for the divisional side. St Nick's have improved since then and with a powerful midfield pairing in the Brosnans, Robert and David, and a fine brand of fast moving football they were always in control of their destiny in an interesting game.

It was delicately poised at half-time with the sides level at 0-6 apiece but the wides tally of six for St Nick's to two for Carrigdhoun was more reflective of who held the upper hand going into the second-half. Two superb goals from Paul O'Brien and Gavin Moylan pushed Nick's 2-8 to 0-7 clear with just under 15 minutes to play, and though Gary White clipped over a free and planted a penalty soon after to pull Carrigdhoun back to within a goal, Nick's held firm, steadied to a neat Paul O'Brien point. Their reward is the toughest assignment in the Evening Echo SFC – champions Nemo in the opening game of a semi-final double header at Páirc Uí Rinn next Saturday night. On paper Nemo are justifiably heavy favourites to maintain their drive for three-in-a-row; they've played five county semi-finals since 2000 and won them all before going on to triumph in the final. The green and black have more marquee names than their Blackpool rivals too but there were aspects of Nick's display that suggests it will be a genuinely close encounter. Midfield duo Robert and David Brosnan lorded the centre for most of the battle and Nick's only lost two of their 13 kick-outs while also snagging seven of the opposition's 18. Robert Brosnan was the principal ball winner fetching three clean kick-outs and crucially they nullified Nick Murphy, who only won two kick-outs cleanly. Nick's half-back and half-forward lines were also seriously impressive. Niall Horgan had a fascinating battle with Fiachra Lynch on the 40, and while the Valley Rovers attacker was menacing in the first-half, pointing twice from play, Horgan got on top in the second. David Cunningham was outstanding at left-wing back, winning breaking ball on the kick-outs, bombing forward to link up with John Kearney for Nick's fifth point, and grabbing the Carrigdhoun kick-out that resulted in the second, killer, goal. Paul O'Brien had a wonderfully economical game at wing-forward. He kept drifting away from Cork senior panellist Michael Prout and was dangerous every time he got possession. O'Brien thieved a pair of points in the first-half and got the first score of the second-half in the 40th minute, curling the ball into the top corner of the net from the ground ala Wayne Rooney to edge Nick's 1-6 to 0-6 ahead. He also slotted over the crucial last score to settle his side after Gary White had nabbed 1-1 in two minutes. Graham Callanan was also a significant factor in the victory through his sheer physicality and drive at right wing-forward. For the second goal he received possession from David Cunningham, burst through three tackles, and teed up sub Donal Cronin who set up Gavin Moylan to rifle home.

For all the positives in Nick's performance, Carrigdhoun were slightly disappointing and Nemo will be a major step up. None of the division's intercounty stars reached their best form, though being fair Nick's didn't allow them to. Nick Murphy did knock over a point but didn't dominate the middle, Ger Spillane handled plenty of ball without driving forward in customary fashion, Alan Quirke was punished for over carrying for a converted Nick's free and Michael Prout was taken for 1-3 by Paul O'Brien. Carrigdhoun's inside forward line was lively however with Cian Ó Conchuir winning a pile of ball and finishing with three points, all the more impressive given the fact he was facing Donal Óg O'Donovan, who excelled in Nick's previous wins over Naomh Abán and Aghada. That will be slight worry for the Nick's management and while neither Barry O'Keeffe nor Peter Murphy scored they did trouble corner-backs Cillian Spain and Shane Kennefick at times. They can't afford David Kearney, James Masters and Paul Kerrigan any latitude next Saturday. It promises to be a fascinating encounter and the core of this Nick's team won't fear Nemo given they won the U21 county title back in 2003.

Scorers for St Nick's: P O'Brien 1-3, R Brosnan 0-3 (0-1 f), G Moylan 1-0, J Kearney 0-2 (0-1 f), D Cunningham 0-1. Carrigdhoun: G White 1-1 (1-0 p, 0-1 f), C Ó Conchuir, F Lynch (0-1 f) 0-3 each, N Murphy 0-1. ST NICK'S: P Cuthbert; C Spain, D Óg Donovan, S Kennefick; L Leahy, N Horgan, D Cunningham; R Brosnan, D Brosnan; G Callanan, D Busteed, P O'Brien; G Moylan, N Harte, J Kearney. Subs: S O'Donoghue for Kennefick (h-t), D Cronin for Busteed (44), S O'Donoghue for Spain (56). CARRIGDHOUN: A Quirke (Valley Rovers); K Blake (Carrigaline), M O'Sullivan (Kinsale), F O'Callaghan (do); M Prout (Shamrocks), G Spillane (Ballygarvan), C O'Donovan (Valley); N Murphy (Carrigaline), R O'Sullivan (Kinsale); J Murphy (Courcey Rovers), F Lynch (Valley), E Murphy (Carrigaline); B O'Keeffe (do), C Ó Conchuir (Ballygarvan), P Murphy (Carrigaline). Subs: J Shanahan (Shamrocks) for J Murphy (43), G White (Ballygarvan) for P Murphy (45), A Murphy (Ballygarvan) for O'Donovan (47), T O'Sullivan (Carrigaline) for O'Keeffe (55). Referee: N Barrett (Carrigtwohill).



				*2007 Senior Championship*

	*Quarter Final* *Report* Nick's set up huge Nemo showdown St Nick's 2-9 Carrigdhoun 1-8 Evening Echo Senior Football Championship quarter-final - Éamonn Murphy. ST NICK'S are back in the last four of the county championship race for the first time in 34 years after a pretty-convincing win over Carrigdhoun at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night. It took three games to separate these sides at the third round stage last autumn but Carrigdhoun never matched any of their performances from that series, which culminated in a win for the divisional side. St Nick's have improved since then and with a powerful midfield pairing in the Brosnans, Robert and David, and a fine brand of fast moving football they were always in control of their destiny in an interesting game. It was delicately poised at half-time with the sides level at 0-6 apiece but the wides tally of six for St Nick's to two for Carrigdhoun was more reflective of who held the upper hand going into the second-half. Two superb goals from Paul O'Brien and Gavin Moylan pushed Nick's 2-8 to 0-7 clear with just under 15 minutes to play, and though Gary White clipped over a free and planted a penalty soon after to pull Carrigdhoun back to within a goal, Nick's held firm, steadied to a neat Paul O'Brien point. Their reward is the toughest assignment in the Evening Echo SFC – champions Nemo in the opening game of a semi-final double header at Páirc Uí Rinn next Saturday night. On paper Nemo are justifiably heavy favourites to maintain their drive for three-in-a-row; they've played five county semi-finals since 2000 and won them all before going on to triumph in the final. The green and black have more marquee names than their Blackpool rivals too but there were aspects of Nick's display that suggests it will be a genuinely close encounter. Midfield duo Robert and David Brosnan lorded the centre for most of the battle and Nick's only lost two of their 13 kick-outs while also snagging seven of the opposition's 18. Robert Brosnan was the principal ball winner fetching three clean kick-outs and crucially they nullified Nick Murphy, who only won two kick-outs cleanly. Nick's half-back and half-forward lines were also seriously impressive. Niall Horgan had a fascinating battle with Fiachra Lynch on the 40, and while the Valley Rovers attacker was menacing in the first-half, pointing twice from play, Horgan got on top in the second. David Cunningham was outstanding at left-wing back, winning breaking ball on the kick-outs, bombing forward to link up with John Kearney for Nick's fifth point, and grabbing the Carrigdhoun kick-out that resulted in the second, killer, goal. Paul O'Brien had a wonderfully economical game at wing-forward. He kept drifting away from Cork senior panellist Michael Prout and was dangerous every time he got possession. O'Brien thieved a pair of points in the first-half and got the first score of the second-half in the 40th minute, curling the ball into the top corner of the net from the ground ala Wayne Rooney to edge Nick's 1-6 to 0-6 ahead. He also slotted over the crucial last score to settle his side after Gary White had nabbed 1-1 in two minutes. Graham Callanan was also a significant factor in the victory through his sheer physicality and drive at right wing-forward. For the second goal he received possession from David Cunningham, burst through three tackles, and teed up sub Donal Cronin who set up Gavin Moylan to rifle home. For all the positives in Nick's performance, Carrigdhoun were slightly disappointing and Nemo will be a major step up. None of the division's intercounty stars reached their best form, though being fair Nick's didn't allow them to. Nick Murphy did knock over a point but didn't dominate the middle, Ger Spillane handled plenty of ball without driving forward in customary fashion, Alan Quirke was punished for over carrying for a converted Nick's free and Michael Prout was taken for 1-3 by Paul O'Brien. Carrigdhoun's inside forward line was lively however with Cian Ó Conchuir winning a pile of ball and finishing with three points, all the more impressive given the fact he was facing Donal Óg O'Donovan, who excelled in Nick's previous wins over Naomh Abán and Aghada. That will be slight worry for the Nick's management and while neither Barry O'Keeffe nor Peter Murphy scored they did trouble corner-backs Cillian Spain and Shane Kennefick at times. They can't afford David Kearney, James Masters and Paul Kerrigan any latitude next Saturday. It promises to be a fascinating encounter and the core of this Nick's team won't fear Nemo given they won the U21 county title back in 2003. Scorers for St Nick's: P O'Brien 1-3, R Brosnan 0-3 (0-1 f), G Moylan 1-0, J Kearney 0-2 (0-1 f), D Cunningham 0-1. Carrigdhoun: G White 1-1 (1-0 p, 0-1 f), C Ó Conchuir, F Lynch (0-1 f) 0-3 each, N Murphy 0-1. ST NICK'S: P Cuthbert; C Spain, D Óg Donovan, S Kennefick; L Leahy, N Horgan, D Cunningham; R Brosnan, D Brosnan; G Callanan, D Busteed, P O'Brien; G Moylan, N Harte, J Kearney. Subs: S O'Donoghue for Kennefick (h-t), D Cronin for Busteed (44), S O'Donoghue for Spain (56). CARRIGDHOUN: A Quirke (Valley Rovers); K Blake (Carrigaline), M O'Sullivan (Kinsale), F O'Callaghan (do); M Prout (Shamrocks), G Spillane (Ballygarvan), C O'Donovan (Valley); N Murphy (Carrigaline), R O'Sullivan (Kinsale); J Murphy (Courcey Rovers), F Lynch (Valley), E Murphy (Carrigaline); B O'Keeffe (do), C Ó Conchuir (Ballygarvan), P Murphy (Carrigaline). Subs: J Shanahan (Shamrocks) for J Murphy (43), G White (Ballygarvan) for P Murphy (45), A Murphy (Ballygarvan) for O'Donovan (47), T O'Sullivan (Carrigaline) for O'Keeffe (55). Referee: N Barrett (Carrigtwohill).