Cork 0-18
Westmeath 0-10
IT WAS NOT always straightforward, but Cork pulled away in the second half to record a win in their Allianz Football League Division 1 opener against Westmeath at Páirc Uí Rinn today.
Having begun the first half strongly, Brian Cuthbert’s side found themselves pegged back as half-time approached. When Kieran Martin’s free put the visitors 0-6 to 0-5 ahead within a minute of the restart, a close encounter looked to be in store but from there Cork took control.
With Aidan Walsh excellent at midfield, the Rebels reeled off nine unanswered scores to put themselves in a commanding position and leave the destination of the two points in no doubt.
Cuthbert, in charge of the county for the first time in the league, will know that there is ample room for improvement but the second-half rejuvenation will have pleased him.
It should probably have been easier, Walsh and Daniel Goulding prominent as an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead was constructed. Cork could not push on from that though and wing-forward Paul Sharry excelled as Westmeath got back in contention.
John Heslin and Ger Egan were on target for the Lake County, who briefly led 0-5 to 0-4 before Fintan Goold responded to leave it tied at half-time. Westmeath seized the advantage again upon the resumption but that was as good as it got for them.
Cork had found their range, with Mark Collins, Brian Hurley, James Loughrey and Walsh all on target while Westmeath lost Heslin to injury in the closing minutes.
Cork can now look forward to another home clash with Kildare next Sunday as they bid to make it two wins from two.
Scorers for Cork: Daniel Goulding 0-7 (0-3 frees), Aidan Walsh 0-3, Mark Collins 0-2, Fintan Goold, James Loughrey, Donal Óg Hodnett, John O’Rourke, Brian O’Driscoll, Brian Hurley 0-1 each.
Scorers for Westmeath: John Heslin 0-4 (0-3 frees), Kieran Martin (0-1 free), Ger Egan 0-2 each, Ray Connellan, John Egan 0-1 each.
CORK: Ken O’Halloran; John McLoughlin, Eoin Cadogan, Michael Shields; James Loughrey, Tom Clancy (Clonakilty), Tomás Clancy (Fermoy); Aidan Walsh, Aidan O’Sullivan; Mark Collins, Paul Kerrigan, Fintan Goold; Daniel Goulding, Brian Hurley, Donal Óg Hodnett.Subs: Donncha O’Connor for Kerrigan (45), Conor Dorman for Shields (49, injured), Brian O’Driscoll for Tomás Clancy (54), Ruairí Deane for Tom Clancy, John O’Rourke for Collins (both 60), John Hayes for Hurley (64).
WESTMEATH: Darren Quinn; Steven Gilmore, Kevin Maguire, Damien Dolan; James Dolan, John Gilligan, Jamie Gonoud; David Duffy, Denis Corroon; Ger Egan, John Egan, Paul Sharry; Kieran Martin, John Heslin, Alan Giles.Subs: Denis Glennon for Giles (33), Kieran Gavin for Damien Dolan (42), Dessie Dolan for Martin (45), Ray Connellan for Corroon (55), Dean McNicholas for Heslin (68, injured).
Referee: Pádraig O’Sullivan (Kerry).
