CORK’S DIVISION 2 purgatory isn’t over yet. Even if the result from Tullamore puts them in a strong position to escape it, and their first half performance suggests they might.
Next Sunday’s clash with Meath will be the judge of where they stand, because their second half showing wasn’t remotely comparable to the first.
Cork were fluid up front and watertight at the back in the opening period against the wind, but in the second – when they had the breeze – they were scattered and wasteful.
Harry Plunkett and Keith O’Neill were excellent for the hosts. The problem for Offaly was
that they were far too reliant on the pair. Plunkett and O’Neill would combine for 0-13 of
their total, nine of those arriving in the second half when the game had already been
decided.
Cork’s 2-9 to 0-6 lead at the break meant that the Rebels could afford such a lethargic
second half. Their third green flag, raised by Mark Cronin in the 39th minute after Seán
Meehan played him through, left them 3-10 to 0-7 clear.
They would raise just five white flags over the next 27 minutes of football, while Offaly
would get 12. Certainly a cause for concern, especially after such an impressive first half.
They blitzed Offaly early on in front of 1,260, against such a stiff breeze too.
Offaly would finish the half with only 0-6 tallied and four of 11 attempts converted. Their
kickout retention was woeful and their shape at the back worse.
Cork tore them apart with minimal effort. Both of their first half green flags were superbly taken by Colm O’Callaghan, Cork’s standout performer by a long shot. The first, a brilliant one-two with Chris Óg Jones saw him fire a thunderbolt to the roof of the net.
Advertisement
That 10th minute major arrived sandwiched between a run of five white flags unanswered, as Cork were untouchable.
The second goal arrived a minute before the hooter, O’Callaghan starting and finishing the move, after Ian Maguire and Jones did well in between.
Offaly would have just two scores registered by the 21st minute. Both were orange flags –
well taken by Cormac Egan and Plunkett – but they were struggling to find any sort of
rhythm, and they couldn’t contain O’Callaghan, Steven Sherlock and Mark Cronin. Dara
Sheedy too impressed for the Rebels on his first start.
When Cork start slacking, Offaly punished them, but they never looked like getting a result.
Relegation looming.
Scorers for Offaly: H Plunkett 0-8 (0-4 f), K O’Neill 0-5 (1 tp), C Egan 0-3 (1 tp), D McDaid, J Hayes, N Furlong 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: C O’Callaghan 2-1, M Cronin 1-4 (0-1 f), S Sherlock 0-5 (0-2 f), C Óg Jones 0-2, S McDonnell, D Sheedy, S Walsh 0-1 each.
Subs: 21. Niall Furlong (Tullamore) for Sawyer (HT), 20. Darragh Flynn (Ferbane) for Murphy (48), 19. Eoin Dunne (Clodaigh Gaels) for Dalton (52), 25. Dan Molloy (St Brigid’s) for Leavy (66).
Cork
1. Patrick Doyle (Knocknagree)
2. Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty), 3. Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree), 18. Seán Meehan
(Kiskeam),
6. Matty Taylor (Mallow), 19. Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), 7. Luke Fahy (Ballincollig)
8. Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), 20. Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s)
10. Paul Walsh (Kanturk), 21. Dara Sheedy (Bantry Blues), 12. Seán McDonnell (Mallow)
11. Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers), 15. Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s), 13. Chris Óg Jones (Uibh Laoire)
Subs: 24. Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues) for P Walsh (45), 9. Seán Walsh (Mitchelstown) for Maguire (51), 26. Cathail O’Mahony (Mitchelstown) for Jones (52), 16. Micheál Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers) for Doyle (61), 23. Conor Cahalane (Castlehaven) for McDonnell (65)
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Goals from Colm O'Callaghan and Mark Cronin help Cork to victory over Offaly
LAST UPDATE | 4 hrs ago
Cork 3-15
Offaly 0-19
Jack McKay reports from Tullamore
CORK’S DIVISION 2 purgatory isn’t over yet. Even if the result from Tullamore puts them in a strong position to escape it, and their first half performance suggests they might.
Next Sunday’s clash with Meath will be the judge of where they stand, because their second half showing wasn’t remotely comparable to the first.
Cork were fluid up front and watertight at the back in the opening period against the wind, but in the second – when they had the breeze – they were scattered and wasteful.
Harry Plunkett and Keith O’Neill were excellent for the hosts. The problem for Offaly was
that they were far too reliant on the pair. Plunkett and O’Neill would combine for 0-13 of
their total, nine of those arriving in the second half when the game had already been
decided.
Cork’s 2-9 to 0-6 lead at the break meant that the Rebels could afford such a lethargic
second half. Their third green flag, raised by Mark Cronin in the 39th minute after Seán
Meehan played him through, left them 3-10 to 0-7 clear.
They would raise just five white flags over the next 27 minutes of football, while Offaly
would get 12. Certainly a cause for concern, especially after such an impressive first half.
They blitzed Offaly early on in front of 1,260, against such a stiff breeze too.
Offaly would finish the half with only 0-6 tallied and four of 11 attempts converted. Their
kickout retention was woeful and their shape at the back worse.
Cork tore them apart with minimal effort. Both of their first half green flags were superbly taken by Colm O’Callaghan, Cork’s standout performer by a long shot. The first, a brilliant one-two with Chris Óg Jones saw him fire a thunderbolt to the roof of the net.
That 10th minute major arrived sandwiched between a run of five white flags unanswered, as Cork were untouchable.
The second goal arrived a minute before the hooter, O’Callaghan starting and finishing the move, after Ian Maguire and Jones did well in between.
Offaly would have just two scores registered by the 21st minute. Both were orange flags –
well taken by Cormac Egan and Plunkett – but they were struggling to find any sort of
rhythm, and they couldn’t contain O’Callaghan, Steven Sherlock and Mark Cronin. Dara
Sheedy too impressed for the Rebels on his first start.
When Cork start slacking, Offaly punished them, but they never looked like getting a result.
Relegation looming.
Scorers for Offaly: H Plunkett 0-8 (0-4 f), K O’Neill 0-5 (1 tp), C Egan 0-3 (1 tp), D McDaid, J Hayes, N Furlong 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: C O’Callaghan 2-1, M Cronin 1-4 (0-1 f), S Sherlock 0-5 (0-2 f), C Óg Jones 0-2, S McDonnell, D Sheedy, S Walsh 0-1 each.
Offaly
16. Conor Melia (Bracknagh)
2. Shane O’Toole Greene (Shamrocks), 3. David Dempsey (Ballycommon), 24. Daire McDaid (Tullamore)
7. Rory Egan (Edenderry), 6. Diarmuid Egan (Tullamore), 5. Cormac Egan (Tullamore)
11. Jordan Hayes (Edenderry), 9. Aaron Leavy (Tullamore)
12. Keith O’Neill (Clonbullogue), 8. Jack McEvoy (Clonbullogue), 10. Marcas Dalton (Clara)
13. Harry Plunkett (Tullamore), 14. Ciarán Murphy (Skerries Harps, Dublin), 15. Eoin Sawyer (Castleknock, Dublin).
Subs: 21. Niall Furlong (Tullamore) for Sawyer (HT), 20. Darragh Flynn (Ferbane) for Murphy (48), 19. Eoin Dunne (Clodaigh Gaels) for Dalton (52), 25. Dan Molloy (St Brigid’s) for Leavy (66).
Cork
1. Patrick Doyle (Knocknagree)
2. Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty), 3. Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree), 18. Seán Meehan
(Kiskeam),
6. Matty Taylor (Mallow), 19. Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), 7. Luke Fahy (Ballincollig)
8. Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), 20. Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s)
10. Paul Walsh (Kanturk), 21. Dara Sheedy (Bantry Blues), 12. Seán McDonnell (Mallow)
11. Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers), 15. Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s), 13. Chris Óg Jones (Uibh Laoire)
Subs: 24. Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues) for P Walsh (45), 9. Seán Walsh (Mitchelstown) for Maguire (51), 26. Cathail O’Mahony (Mitchelstown) for Jones (52), 16. Micheál Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers) for Doyle (61), 23. Conor Cahalane (Castlehaven) for McDonnell (65)
Ref: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
GAA Rebels Rising