Nemo Rangers (Cork) 0-15 Clonmel Commercials (Tipperary) 0-6

Nemo Rangers, inspired by inter-county star Luke Connelly, secured a 17th Munster Senior Club Football crown at Fraher Field on a day when they were rarely troubled by Clonmel Commercials.

In welcome Dungarvan sunshine before a 2,124-strong crowd, Nemo led by 0-07 to 0-03 at the break and were good value for that advantage.

Clonmel hit the front after two minutes through a Jason Lonergan free, with Nemo taking five minutes to level through man of the match Luke Connolly.

Nemo, growing in confidence with each attack, were denied a 10th minute goal after O'Reilly dived brilliantly to his right, thwarting Luke Connolly’s well-struck effort.

Connolly made no mistake when converting an 11th minute free to send his side ahead for the first time, with a Mark Cronin free extending their advantage two minutes later.

Nemo pointed again after 14 minutes through Luke Connolly, following fine support play from Kevin O’Donovan and Colin O’Brien.

Clonmel required a response and found it in the 20th minute thanks to Ross Peters, who was fed possession by the heavily marshalled Michael Quinlivan. But Nemo landed a fifth point from their very next attack from another Cronin free following a foul on Paul Kerrigan.

Commercials kept themselves in touch thanks to a superb floated effort by Séamus Kennedy, with the Quinlivan again proving the provider.

But Nemo finished the half in command thanks to further points from Conor Hogan and Kevin O’Donovan and they opened the second half scoring seven minutes in through captain Barry O’Driscoll.

Three minutes later, Luke Connolly found his range again before Commercials landed a fourth point in the 46th minute from Jack Kennedy and he repeated the feat in the 47th and 48th minutes.

Ross Peters kicked his second point of the day for Clonmel after 50 minutes before Connolly landed his seventh point two minutes later.

Seven minutes from time, on a day when his finishing largely eluded him, Paul Kerrigan palmed over his 231st career point in club football. Tallied with his 23 goals in the black and green, this leaves the Cork veteran on the 300-point mark for Nemo in what was also his 100th senior club appearance.

Michael Quinlivan finally opened his account in the 55th minute with a close range free on a day when Clonmel were firmly second best.  

Additional time points by substitute Kevin Fulignati and Mark Cronin (his third free) proved the icing on the cake for an imperious Nemo, who have moved nine titles clear of Dr Crokes on the provincial roll of honour.

Nemo Rangers: M A Martin; B Murphy (K Histon 60), A O’Reilly, A Cronin; K O’Donovan (0-01), S Cronin, J Horgan (R Dalton 60); A O’Donovan, J McDermott; L Connolly (0-07; 0-02f), P Kerrigan (0-01), C O’Brien (C Dalton 40); M Cronin (0-03f), B O’Driscoll (0-01) (K Fulignati (0-01) 58), C Horgan (0-01) (B Twomey 60).

Clonmel Commercials: M O’Reilly; D Madigan (D Lynch 58), L Ryan, C McGeever; J Peters, S Kennedy, K Fahey; J Kennedy (0-01), Conal Kennedy (0-01) (R Lambe 41); K Harney (M Murphy 60), Colman Kennedy (P Loonan HT), R Peters (0-02) (R Gunne 50); J Lonergan (0-01f), M Quinlivan (0-01f), S O’Connor.

Referee: Padraig O’Sullivan (Kerry).