Nemo Rangers 3-5 Millstreet 2-5
In the Cork County Senior Football League semi-final at Macroom yesterday, Millstreet were narrowly defeated in a game they could have won if only half of the scoring chances they were presented with were availed of. On a greasy pitch which made ball control difficult, Millstreet controlled the game for the opening quarter mainly through the efforts of their inter-county players Humphrey Kelleher at centre back and John Coleman. Despite their advantage, they had nothing to show on the scoreboard except a point in the 13th minute sent over by their sixteen year old left half forward Brian McSweeney, who apart from John Coleman was their outstanding front line player.
During this period, Nemo had mounted no worthwhile attack but in the 17th minute a solo run by Dinny Allen from midfield brought him inside the 21 yards mark where he passed to Jimmy Barrett who made no mistake in sending all the way to the net for the city team’ opening score. This was the tonic which Nemo required and three minutes later they went further ahead when Liam Good pointed. After Brian McSweeney had reduced the arrears with a point, Nemo were awarded a penalty which Dinny Allen had no trouble in converting but a fine goal after a solo run of thirty yards by John Coleman brought Millstreet back into the game just on half time.
Two minutes after the resumption a point by Brian McSweeney for Millstreet left only one point between the teams when they were given a penalty three minutes later. John O’Keeffe was on target to put them in the lead for the second time. Although O’Keeffe put them further ahead with a point, Nemo fought back as they had done in the first half and scores by Colum Murphy (1-1) put them in the lead which they never lost.
Scorers for the winners: C Murphy 1-2, J Barrett 1-0, D Allen 1-0, L Good 0-2, S Coughlan 0-1
Millstreet: J O’Keeffe 1-1, John Coleman 1-0, B McSweeney 0-3, D O’Hare 0-1.
