NEMO Rangers were crowned AOS Security Seandún Junior Football League 1 champions, as they defeated White’s Cross in the decider, before a sizeable attendance at Ballinlough.
The Trabeg side dominated proceedings territorially, but the White’s Cross defence held firm as they denied Nemo Rangers two goal-scoring opportunities in the opening half.
Nemo Rangers were also denied further goal chances in the final quarter, before their goal came from the game’s last play.
White’s Cross made the better start as Conor Buckley opened the scoring with a pointed free, within a minute of the throw-in.
Nemo Rangers’ Ruairí Hogan exchanged points with Rob Docherty of White’s Cross, before the Trabeg side seized the initiative.
Nemo Rangers opened up a five-point gap as David Coughlan and Shane O’Dwyer slotted over two points each from play in this period. Hogan also chipped in with a point from play and Aaron Browne converted a free, to give the Trabeg side a lead of 0-7 to 0-2.
White’s Cross responded with a point from play by Killian Ryan in the 20th minute, and this was followed by two unanswered frees by Luke Kelleher.
Nemo Rangers responded with points from play by Dave Kelly and Conor Casey to give their side a 0-9 to 0-5 interval lead.
Within seconds of the resumption, Hogan increased Nemo Rangers’ lead with a point from play, but this margin was reduced to three points as Buckley slotted over two unanswered points.
Browne converted Nemo Rangers’ only free of the second half in the 45th minute, before Buckley responded with his last point from play for White’s Cross.
Bill Twohig and Conor Cusack each slotted over points from play for Nemo Rangers in the final quarter, while Buckley converted two frees for White’s Cross.
Persistent fouling was to prove costly for Whites’ Cross as Cusack got the game’s only goal, following a free, two minutes into stoppage time.
C Cusack 1-1; R Hogan 0-3; A Browne 0-2 f; D Coughlan, S O’Dwyer 0-2 each; B Twohig, D Kelly, C Casey 0-1 each.
C Buckley 0-6 (0-3 f); L Kelleher 0-2 f; K Ryan, R Docherty 0-1 each.
K Martin; D Egan, C Coughlan, S Mulcahy; N O’Shea, C Casey, D Coughlan; C Cusack, M Hayes; S O’Dwyer, A Browne, D Kelly; R Hogan, J Philpott, B O’Connor.
P O’Dwyer for O’Shea, S Nagle for Philpott (both h-t), B Twohig for Kelly (38), E Seymour for O’Connor (58).
R Teehan; S Ryan, B Prendergast, M Philpott; S Whooley, G Fleming, S Delaney; K Ryan R Docherty; PJ O’Donovan, D Burke, S Quinlan; C Buckley, T Casey, L Kelleher.
F O’Connell for Quinlan (37), B Quinn for Casey, B O’Sullivan for Kelleher (both 40).
James Regan (Lough Rovers).