Masters propels Nemo to final

Cork SFC Semi-finals : Nemo Rangers will play Ilen Rovers in this year's Cork football final after the two sides defeated St Nicholas and Duhallow respectively in a double bill of semi-finals at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening.

Nemo remain on course for a third consecutive county title after a comfortable 1-14 to 0-7 win over St Nicholas.

County player James Masters scored 1-8, with his goal coming after 13 minutes. That helped Nemo to a 1-5 to 0-4 lead at the interval.

The champions upped a gear on the resumption when further points from Masters (two), David Kearney and Alan Cronin helped stretch their advantage to 1-9 to 0-4 after 40 minutes and there was simply no way back for their opponents.

Ilen Rovers beat divisional side Duhallow by 3-8 to 1-8 to reach their first Cork senior final.

Two goals in 30 seconds from John Wycherly and Conor O'Driscoll helped the west Cork side to a 2-4 to 0-3 lead by half-time. Ilen grabbed a third goal after 34 minutes, when Donal Murphy finished expertly, before Duhallow rallied briefly.

Donncha O'Connor got a goal back from the penalty spot after 40 minutes but Ilen were never in any danger of surrendering their lead.

SCORERS

Nemo Rangers : J Masters 1-8 (0-3 frees), A Cronin 0-2, M Cronin 0-1, S O'Brien 0-1, D Kearney 0-1, B O'Driscoll 0-1. St Nicholas : R Brosnan 0-4 (three frees, one 45), J Kearney 0-2 (frees), D Brosnan 0-1.

Ilen Rovers : C O'Driscoll 1-1, K O'Sullivan 0-3 (one free), D Murphy 1-0, J Wycherly 1-0, F Collins 0-1, D Coughlan 0-1, E Sheehy 0-1, D Whooley 0-1. Duhallow : D O'Connor 1-4 (1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees, 0-1 45), N O'Sullivan 0-1, M Dilworth 0-1, N Cronin 0-1, J Buckley 0-1.

© 2007 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times