Footballers find their groove

Cork 0-20 Offaly 0-13

CORK got life in Division 3 off to the best possible start with a solid win over Offaly at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday night. In what can only be described as an impressive, but largely vacant stadium the Rebels clawed their way back from a poor first half display to see off the visiting outfit by seven points.

Manager Ronan McCarthy was delighted to be able to call on the likes of Seán Powter and Sam Ryan (both returning from long term injuries) with a host of other familiar names like Ian Maguire, Matty Taylor and Ruairí Deane also available for selection.

From the off Cork looked up for this one winning the throw in and scoring inside 60 seconds. The Rebels attacked with purpose in the early exchanges but found themselves on par by the fifth minute after a tasty score from Ruairí

McNamee settled the visitors.

Cork seemed happy to play out from the back and were rewarded on eight minutes with a point from Deane after a flowing move involving six Cork players cut Offaly apart.

Soon after, Cork fans got a glimpse of what they have been missing for a few years when the returning Ciarán Sheehan landed a beauty from the left to open up the game’s first multi score lead – however a quick brace from the Leinster side had parity on the scoreboard inside a minute with a third following almost immediately from Cian Johnson. Cork almost responded on the return when Ian Maguire found himself one on one with Offaly keeper Paddy Dunican however the shot-stopper won the exchange with a brilliant save from the Cork midfielder.

Any pre-game idea that this was going to be anything like a walk in the park for the men in red was put to bed in the middle third of the opening half when a brace of top class points from Bernard Allen pushed Offaly three clear – pressure mounting on the Munster men.

Cork rose to the challenge with a good point from Sheehan and a classy effort from Seán White. Micheál Martin saved well from Allen on 26 minutes before Anton Sullivan landed his second to again go three points up.

Cathail O’Mahony was next to score for Cork who were back to within one when Damien Gore raised white, but again Offaly showed they were here to play and a good point from Sullivan again gave them a two point cushion.

Cork brought the damage back to the minimum before the break just as Cork’s Maor Foire Cian O’Neill was sent to the stands. 0-9 to 0-8 could have been a lot worse. Cork introduced Michael Hurley at the interval and the Castlehaven made an instant contribution levelling the game up for the first time since the 12 minute.

Cork were looking better now and a point from Brian Hartnett put them in the lead. Things could have got even better for the Leesiders had wing back Kevin Crowley finished to the net rather than over the bar after a brilliant attacking team move, but Cork were motor now and Sheehan had the easy task of popping over a close in free after great work from Deane.

The sides traded points before once again Maguire was through on goal with just the keeper to beat but again it was the number one that won out however the rebound fell to Hurley who bagged his third point in 17 minutes.

Martin had to be at his best to deny McNamee on the double soon after but Cork rallied, closed the gates at the back and managed to bag three on the bounce to open up a six point advantage heading for the final whistle.

Offaly did manage a free late on, but Hurley hit back with a peach and cork went on to win seven. The second half was much more like the type of performance Ronan McCarthy was looking for as he goes in search of life in the second tier.

CORK: Micheál Martin; Seán Powter, Sam Ryan, Paul Ring; Kevin Crowley 0-1, Liam O’Donovan, Matthew Taylor; Ian Maguire, Thomas Clancy; Ruairí Deane 0-1, Seán White 0-2, Brian Hartnett 0-1; Damien Gore, Ciarán Sheehan 0-3 (1f), C O’Mahony 0-3 (2f) Subs: Michael Hurley 0-5 (0-1f) for Gore, half-time, John O’Rourke 0-2 for Clancy, 50, Colm O’Callaghan 0-1 for O’Mahony, 56, Tadhg Corkery 0-1 for O’Donovan, 59, Peter Murphy for C Sheehan, 67

OFFALY: Paddy Duncian; Declan Hogan, Eoin Rigney, Niall Darby; Eoin Carroll, David Dempsey, Jordan Hayes; Cathal Mangan, Michael Brazil; Shane Horan, Ruairí McNamee 0-4 (2f), Conor McNamee; Cian Johnson 0-1, Bernard Allen 0-4 (2f), Anton Sullivan 0-4 Subs: Ronan McEvoy for McNamee, 16, Cian Donohue for McEvoy, 48, Mark Abbott for Johnson, 56, Jason Dempsey for Brazil, 59, Ciarán Donnelly for Horan, 64

REFEREE: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary)