Hurley Bros ensure Castlehaven stay on top of Cork pile

Castlehaven 0-16 Nemo 0-11

The Andy Scanell Cup will spend another winter in west Cork following Castlehaven's five-point victory over Nemo Rangers in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The two clubs were actually level seven times in the first half and the eventual winners pulled away after the break by outscoring their city rivals 0-08 to 0-03.

Once they got going, Castlehaven never looked like slowing down with a team led by brothers Brian and Michael Hurley, with the pair tallying 0-09 between them.

It was a fitting finish to a season for the club that saw them top their group during the autumn and earn a bye into the semi-finals, where they defeated 2021 winners St Finbarr’s.

It was a clinical way of operating and the team started fasted with an early goal chance falling to Brian Hurley. Stephen Cronin dealt with that for Nemo, and it was followed Michael Hurley curling over the game’s first point in the 3rd minute.

Mark Cronin responded for the city-side with a well worked score from play, and Castlehaven immediately retook the lead with Brian Hurley raising his first white flag of the day.

A pattern was established that would repeat itself six times during the opening half-hour. Bryan Hayes was the next player to ensure parity at 0-02 apiece and Jack Cahalane restored Castlehaven’s lead with a simple tap-over.

Ronan Dalton then put over a quick brace, and the team from the city were in front for the first time in the 13th minute.

Sean Browne and Jack Cahalane hit back for Castlehaven, and Bryan Hayes made it 0-5 apiece from beyond the arc.

A Brian Hurley free edged the defending champions in front and Paul Kerrigan’s first score of the day tied things up once again.

That was