1980
The intermediate footballers took centre stage this year when a good mixture of experience and youth was instrumental in winning the county championship with victory over Midleton at PaircUiChaoimh. The intermediate footballers started the year by outshining the seniors when beating Castlehaven to win the section two final of the 1979 senior football league. The team were completely dominant in their first championship game against St. Vincents – Nemo 1-15, St. Vincents 3-2. Three first half goals by Noel Morgan, Donal Murphy and Billy Sheehan against Macroom provided the spring board for a 3-7 to 0-10 victory before Mitchelstown were beaten 1-9 to 0-7. A gap of 54 years was bridged when the team triumphed over Midleton in the final 2-6 to 1-4. The team lined out as follows: Sean Martin, Mick Kenneally, Jerry Weldon, Mick Queally, John Barry, Donal Cronin, Donal O’ Sullivan, Donal Murphy, Aidan Keane, Billy Sheehan, Charlie McLoughlin, Charlie Murphy, Noel Morgan, Mick Niblock, Jimmy Barrett Subs: Paudie O’ Sullivan.
The U21 footballers continued the club’s excellent record in this grade by retaining the county title. The U21 footballers qualified for the city final with victories over Na Piarsaigh, St. Finbarr’s and Bishopstown. The standard of football in the final against St. Nick’s was very high and Nemo were made to fight all the way. Kieran Buckley’s important save midway through the second half proved vital and Jimmy Kerrigan’s goal was to be the match winning score. In the first round of the county the team were far too good for NaomhAban winning 3-15 to 0-5 at Cloughduv. The semi-final against Castlehaven was closer at Clonakilty. Tom Hennebry, Leonard O’ Keeffe and John Barry were impressive in defence as Nemo eventually won 0-10 to 0-3. The final against Beara was a one-sided affair at Aughville. Ephie Fitzgerald was outstanding a full forward scoring 1-8 as well as having a goal disallowed. The defence, marshalled by Tom Hennebry were solid throughout as Tim Dalton captained the team to a fantastic victory – 3-16 to 1-4. The final team was: Kieran Buckley, Mick Kenneally, Paudie Martin, Leonard O’ Keeffe, John Barry, Tom Hennebry, Donal Cronin, Jimmy Kerrigan, Aidan Keane, Donal Murphy, Sean Hayes, Tim Dalton, Billy Sheehan, Ephie Fitzgerald, Tony Dwane, Subs: Liam Twomey, Michael Lynch.
The senior footballers also qualified from the preliminary rounds following victories over St. Michael’s, St. Finbarr’s and St. Nick’s. NaomhAban proved a surprise packet in the quarter final before Nemo eventually won 2-6 to 0-10. This had now set up a semi-final local derby against the Barr’s in Ballinlough. Some defence lapses at the end of the first half and start of the second half were capitalised on by the Barrs, particularly James O’ Callaghan, who was later to become a Nemo player and these three goals decided the game 3-10 to 0-12.
At senior level the hurlers qualified for another meeting against Glen Rovers at the quarter final stage following good wins over Na Piarsaigh and Bandon in their league section. Against the Glen, Nemo fought gallantly but in the last quarter the Glen pulled away, winning 1-15 to 0-9.
The minor hurlers won the B championship and league double. In the championship decider there were fine performances from Kieran Murphy, Tony Nation, John Lynch and Denis O’ Brien.
The minor footballers repeated the hurling success when winning the A league with victory over St. Finbarr’s.