2023 Cork Premier Senior Football Final – Castlehaven 0-11 Nemo Rangers 0-9

Castlehaven defeated Nemo Rangers by 0-11 to 0-9 in the Cork Premier Senior Football Final on Sunday October 29th at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Cork SFC Final: Castlehaven defeat Nemo

Castlehaven 0-11 Nemo Rangers 0-9

Report By Dylan O’Connell at Páirc Uí Chaoimh for GAA.ie

The Andy Scannell Cup is back in West Cork after seven years following Castlehaven’s victory over Nemo Rangers.

Late scores from Michael and Brian Hurley edged the club in front of their city rivals

The Haven did it – and by doing so they ended a memorable campaign that saw hard fought victories over championship favourites St Finbarr’s and 2014 winners Ballincollig.

To upset the most successful team in the history of Cork football, Castlehaven had to be patient and disciplined while in possession. Haven were rewarded for their work inside five minutes as Michael and Brian Hurley combined to give them an early two point lead.

Damien Cahalane marshalled their back-line so well that Nemo were reduced to just one shot during the opening 15 minutes.

Then Luke Connolly and Jack Horgan found space and tied the game up, and that was the start of a straight shoot-out between the two clubs.

Neither team was able to gain some sense of comfort as Barry O’Driscoll and Mark Cronin were immediately cancelled out white flags that Michael Hurley and Sean Browne raised.

That made it 0-4 apiece at the break and the game restarted with a flurry of activity that ended with Nemo one point up.

Brian Hurley free immediately equalised for Castlehaven and Mark Cronin added another point to his tally, and his club led 0-6 to 0-5.

Castlehaven erased that advantage through a Brian Hurley free that split the posts at the Blackrock End.

The southside club dominated possession in the minutes that followed and they created four scoring opportunities in a row. Connolly was only available to convert one – from a placed ball – and Nemo went up by one point.

Castlehaven kept their composure and never overly committed in a bid to quickly recoup any losses. The discipline was rewarded through a mark that Brian Hurley claimed and put over the bar.

It was a drawn game at the 60th minute and Brian Hurley kicked over another free to make it 0-10 to 0-9. Nemo pushed up in added time to try and the space created led to a Castlehaven counter attack that Michael Hurley finished off.

There was no time for a restart and the final whistle crowned Castlehaven as Cork champions for 2023.

Scorers for Castlehaven: Michael Hurley 0-5 (1m), Brian Hurley 0-5 (3fs, 1m), Sean Browne 0-1.

Scorers for Nemo Rangers: Luke Connolly (1f) and Mark Cronin (3fs) 0-3 each., Barry Cripps, Barry O’Driscoll, and Jack Horgan 0-1 each.

Castlehaven: Darragh Cahalane; Johnny Regan, Rory Maguire, Ronan Walsh, Thomas O’Mahony, Damien Cahalane, Mark Collins, Conor Cahalane, Andrew Whelton, Jack O’Neill, Brian Hurley, Sean Browne, Cathal Maguire, Jack Cahalane, Michael Hurley.
Subs: Conor O’Driscoll for Browne (46); Robbie Minihane for Whelton (48), James O’Driscoll for O’Neill (54), Ciaran O’Sullivan for O’Mahony (59).

Nemo Rangers: Micheal Aodh Martin; Kieran Histon, Brian Murphy, Kevin O’Donovan, Colin Molloy, Kevin Fulhanati, Steven Cronin, Barry Cripps, Alan O’Donovan, Conor Horgan, Barry O’Driscoll, Jack Horgan, Mark Cronin, Luke Horgan, Luke Connolly.
Subs: Paul Kerrigan for Luke Horgan (45); Ronan Dalton for O’Driscoll (47), Gary Sayers for Molloy (49), Colm Kiely for Horgan (55).

Referee: Pa O’Driscoll (Bride Rovers).

Ticket Details

The Bon Secours PIFC Final Bantry Blues v Cill Na Martra & PSFC Final Nemo Rangers v Castlehaven takes place this Sunday at 1:00pm & 3:00pm in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Advance ticket sales only, purchase tickets here https://t.co/yySqctkqEB.@bshsireland #OneCork pic.twitter.com/JyLtKsDmNZ

— Cork GAA (@OfficialCorkGAA) October 23, 2023