Munster Express Online

The Nire remain on course for back to back SFC crowns following a comfortable seven-point victory over the Brickey Rangers under the Fraher Field lights on Saturday last.
There was never any doubt about The Nire’s progress over the hour: at times, particularly in the opening half the champions were simply operating at a level that the Brickeys just couldn’t handle.
The Nire had a spread of nine different scorers, six alone in the opening half as they completely dominated the first half to lead by 0-10 to 0-3 at the break.
Craig Guiry, Brian Wall and Jamie Barron all recorded a couple of points each in the opening exchanges with only Carthach Shallloe (2) and Emmet Gaffney managing to interrupt the victors’ scoring sequence.
In fairness to last year’s Intermediate champions, they never threw in the towel and managed parity on the scoreboard over the second 30 minutes.
Impressive midfielder Mark Cummins and the accurate Carthach Shalloe both had third quarter points for the Brickeys in response to two Brian Wall pointed frees and a fine individual effort from Darren Guiry for The Nire.
Then in the 46th minute referee Pat Casey generously awarded the Brickeys a penalty when he adjudged that Nire full-back Thomas O’Gorman had illegally restrained Emmet Gaffney in front of goal.
Carthach Shalloe slotted the penalty low past Tom Wall and minutes later added another point free to reduce their arrears to just four points with 10 minutes remaining.
While The Nire could certainly be accused of idling during the second period with their comfortable half-time lead, that Brickeys goal jolted them from their mid-game slumber.
Late points from Darren Guiry, Michael Walsh and Shane Walsh helped the score board to more accurately reflect the overall dominance of the champions and confirm their semi-final berth.
At times, last year’s Munster club finalists produced sublime football and look in great shape for Friday night’s semi-final at the same venue against Stradbally (8pm).
The O’Gorman twins, Shane Walsh, Craig Guiry, Jamie Barron and Conor Gleeson are all in top form at just the right time of year for the Championship favourites.
The Brickeys, having retained senior status in the wake of their IFC title win last year, were firmly in bonus territory last weekend, after a season for further progress under the management team of Dermot O’Neill, Will Queally and Olan Casey.

The Nire: Tom Wall; Justin Walsh, James McGrath, Seamus Lawlor; Diarmuid Wall, Maurice O’Gorman, Shane Walsh; Craig Guiry, Darren Guiry; Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson, Brian Wall, Dylan Guiry, Shane Ryan, Michael Walsh.

Scorers: Brian Wall (0-4f), Conor Gleeson (0-2f), Craig Guiry, Jamie Barron and Darren Guiry (0-2 each), Maurice O’Gorman, Shane Ryan, Michael Walsh and Shane Walsh (0-1 each).

Substitutes: Martin Walsh for Diarmuid Wall (39 mins), Michael O’Gorman for Shane Ryan (48), Dermot Ryan for James McGrath (52), Gearoid Hearn for Dylan Guiry (54) and Michael Moore for Brian Wall (57).

Brickey Rangers: Joe Grant; Diarmuid Tobin, Philip Walsh, Conor Phelan; Tommy Lynch, David Ryan, Cathal Curran; Mark Cummins, Cormac Curran; Carthach Shalloe, Conor McGrath, Shane McGrath; Cormac O’Grady, Cormac Barry, Emmet Gaffney.

Scorers: Carthach Shalloe (1-4; 0-3f, 1-0 Pen), Emmet Gaffney and Mark Cummins (0-1 each).

Substitutes: Ryan O’Neill for Cormac O’Grady (37 mins) and Paul Whelan for Tommy Lynch (54).

Referee: Pat Casey.