Footballers find a new low despite finishing campaign on a high

CORK - as manager Ronan McCarthy suggested - did their bit on the final day of the League in beating Armagh but the Rebels relegation was confirmed by results elsewhere, namely Clare’s come-from-behind win in Thurles that had the dual impact of send Tipperary and Cork down to Division 3. Clare survived anoother season on Division Two by virtue of their head to head win over Cork earlier in the campaign.

Armagh were one of only two teams with nothing to play for across all the divisions but pride in the jersey and places up for grabs was enough to warrant a good performance.

Cork, on the other hand, were playing for their Division Two lives, and it showed in their performance - to a degree - until Armagh came back at them in the final stages to almost make matters in Semple Standium redundant. In the end Cork were not for saving.

Although Armagh had a testing opening half playing into a swirling breeze, they let in two soft goals that saw Cork lead by six at the interval. A couple of early wides set the tone for the men in orange but after Kevin Crowley put one wide for Cork, a good one-two between Jarly Og Burns and Grugan saw, the former put the ball over the bar to open the scoring for Armagh in the second minute.

Cork responded in the best way possible with some sloppy defending allowing Mark Collins space in front of goal to pick out the in-rushing Brian Hurley at the far post and he hit the net with four minutes on the clock. Two well-taken points by Eoghan McSweeney made it 1-2 to 0-1 and Cork increased the margin to seven points when Hurley raised another green flag by drilling into the net past the outstretched arms of

Blaine Hughes, this time set up by John O’Rourke.

Collins added another point to make it 2-3 to 0-1 before Armagh’s 15-minute dry spell ended with a converted free by Grugan who began to adjust to the wind.

Cillian

O’Hanlon responded with a super point from distance on 17 minutes, but Armagh began to show some spirit when Jarly Og Burns played a good ball to Grugan who delivered well to Forker in the small square. His goal effort was pushed over the bar by Cork keeper Mark White but again the visitors replied with another score for Collins making it 2-5 to 0-3.

Forker had another goal chance moments later but his effort came back off the post to Grugan who put the ball over the bar and traded frees between Collins and Grugan made it 2-6 to 0-6 at the interval.

Niall Grimley was sin binned at the end of the first period, so Armagh began the second with 14 men. But it was Corks turn to feel the affect of the breeze as they sent their first point effort wide of the mark. Pearse Casey had a penalty shout waved away moments later but Paddy Burns won a free which Grugan duly converted and two more scores for Armagh narrowed the margin to three points at 2-6 to 0-9. The first stemmed from Clarke making a break down the middle with ball in hand chased down by Collins who conceded a ’45. Hughes came down from his goal to take it and kicked short into a crowded square. Clarke came away with the ball and Rafferty was pulled

to gground for another free that sub Rian O’Neill cconverted. Grimley then could have had a goal but opted to kick over theh bar before CCollins scored Corks first of theh half on 48 mminutes.

Armagh were up for the challengee however, asa Grugan replied with a point from play and O’Neill leaped high and won a fantastic offensive mark which he scored from at close range. Hall set up Joe McElroy for a fisted point on the hour mark to make it a one-point game at 2-7 to 0-12 and with that the excitement built around the Athletic Grounds.

Cork looked to have done enough after that though when again they were given too much space and Crowley took advantage, bursting forward into the small square and firing into the net past the helpless Hughes.

Seconds later, however, McElroy was fouled for a penalty. Clarke stepped up and was coolness personified as he stroked into the bottom left-hand corner. Grugan then levelled the match at 1-13 to 3-7 with a free with three minutes left on the clock.

There was pandemonium from the pundits in the press box during the five minutes additional time when Ruairi Deane and Damien Gore put two well-taken points over the bar that put Cork in sight of the finish line. O’Neill converted another free after that, but the Rebels had done enough to win - if not to stay up - with Clare beating Tipperary.

ARMAGH: B Hughes; P Burns, J McElroy (0-1), P Hughes; R Kennedy, B Donaghy, A Forker (0-1); J Og Burns (0-1), N Grimley (0-1); R Grugan (0-6, 5f), C Vernon, J Hall (0-1); E Rafferty, P Casey, S Campbell. Subs: J Clarke (1-0, pen) for Campbell (29); R O’Neill (0-3, 2f, 1m) for Vernon (44); J Morgan for Hughes (51); A Nugent for Casey (58).

CORK: Mark White; Kevin Flahive, Thomas Clancy, Conor Dennehy; Kevin Crowley (10), Thomas Clancy, Mattie Taylor; Ian Maguire, Cillian O’Hanlon (0-1); Eoghan McSweeney (0-2) , Kevin O’Driscoll, Ruairi Deane (0-1); Brian Hurley (2-0), Mark Collins (0-4,1f), Sean White. Subs: Kevin O’Driscoll for O’Rourke (26), Damien Gore (0-1) for Hurley (48), Paul Kerrigan for McSweeney (65), Stephen Cronin for S White (70+2)

REFEREE: Maurice Deegan (Laois)