Cork 0-16
Kildare 1-12
CORK MAINTAINED THEIR impressive start to Division 1 of the Allianz football league in Páirc Uí Rinn today as they overcame Kildare.
Both teams entered the match on the back of opening day victories last Sunday but it was Cork who claimed the spoils on this occasion. The concecssion of a last-gasp goal to Cathal McNally made for a nervy conclusion yet Cork had done enough by that juncture to fashion success.
New manager Brian Cuthbert saw his young team produce impressive passages of play with an array of scorers. John O’Rourke was terrific while Mark Collins, James Loughrey and Donal Og Hodnett also caught the eye.
Debutants Alan Cronin and Cathal Vaughan both put in impressive shifts when sprung from the bench. Cronin did well in defence after being introduced in the first-half while Vaughan hit a brace of points after entering the game late on.
Jason Ryan’s Kildare team made the running in the first-half to the delight of their fans in the 2,648 attendance. They were in front by 0-8 to 0-5 after 26 minutes with Cathal McNally and Darroch Mulhall both emerging as serious threats in attack.
Yet Cork notched two late points before half-time, both from Donncha O’Connor, and that crucially cut the gap to the minimum at the midway mark. Cork then emerged in a determined mood in the second-half.
They outscored Kildare by 0-6 to 0-3 in the opening thirteen minutes of the second period and could have found the net but Daniel Goulding blazed over when released by Brian Hurley. They had also missed a clear cut goal chance in the first-half when James Loughrey shot wide.
Cork never quite killed off Kildare’s challenge and were only 0-14 to 0-12 ahead with five minutes remaining. Then Vaughan made a notable impact as he curled over from play and then converted a free after being fouled himself. Despite McNally’s late goal, Cork hung on for the victory.
Scorers for Cork: John O’Rourke 0-3, Mark Collins, Daniel Goulding (0-1f), Donncha O’Connor, Donal Óg Hodnett, Brian Hurley, Cathal Vaughan (0-1f) 0-2 each, James Loughrey 0-1.Scorers for Kildare: Cathal McNally 1-2, Darroch Mulhall 0-4 (0-1f), Eoghan O’Flaherty 0-2 (0-1f), Kevin Murnaghan, Paddy Brophy, Sean Hurley, Tomas O’Connor 0-1 each.
CORK: Ken O’Halloran; John McLoughlin, Conor Dorman, Tom Clancy; Brian O’Driscoll, Fintan Goold, James Loughrey; Andrew O’Sullivan, Ruairi Deane; Mark Collins, Donncha O’Connor, John O’Rourke; Daniel Goulding, Brian Hurley, Donal Óg Hodnett.
Subs: Alan Cronin for McLoughlin (21), Noel Galvin for Clancy (35, injured), Colm O’Driscoll for O’Sullivan (54), John Hayes for Goulding (59), Cathal Vaughan for O’Connor (65), Kevin O’Driscoll for B O’Driscoll (70).
KILDARE: Mark Donnellan; Mick O’Grady, Kevin Murnaghan, Mick Foley; Emmett Bolton, Fergal Conway, Paul Cribbin; Tommy Moolick, Gary White; Sean Hurley, Eoghan O’Flaherty, Cathal McNally; Paddy Brophy, Tomas O’Connor, Darroch Mulhall.
Subs: David Hyland for Bolton (half-time, injured), Hugh McGrillen for F Conway (44), Seamus Gately for Hurley (56), Fionn Dowling for Mulhall (59, injured), Padraig O’Neill for White (64), Mikey Conway for O’Flaherty (68).
Referee: Eddie Kinsella (Laois).
