Cork keep winning start intact

By Eoin Cormican (Irish Examiner)

Cork 1-15 – 0-9 Leitrim

Cork this afternoon continued their winning start to life in Division 3, the visitors to Carrick-on-Shannon recording their second league victory to remain firmly in the hunt for promotion.

This was Ronan McCarthy’s charges’ first away assignment of the league and while the number of unforced errors made and possession cheaply given away will have frustrated the Cork management, not to mention the four goal chances they failed to capitalise on, they banked two more points towards their end-of-spring goal of 10.
Cork, backed by a strong breeze in the opening half, led 1-7 to 0-3 at the break. The sides had been rather evenly matched on the scoreboard throughout the first half, Cork’s 1-2 burst from the 33rd minute onwards giving them a deserved seven-point interval buffer.
The Cork goal arrived a minute and a half into first-half stoppages, Ciaran Sheehan at the end of an intricate move involving Ian Maguire, who made the initial intercept to secure possession for the visitors, Ruairi Deane, and Tom Clancy.
Cork were certainly not shy of first-half goal-scoring opportunities, but a combination of poor finishing and outstanding goalkeeping on the part of Diarmuid McKiernan meant three earlier chances had come to nothing.
Leitrim, too, had goal chances of their own, the first of which fell to Darragh Rooney. The corner-forward, however, fumbled possession at the crucial moment. Rooney was again at the centre of their second green flag opening, put through by a delicious chipped pass from Keith Beirne, but his shot was kept out by Micheál Martin.

Beirne was the sole Leitrim man to find the target in the opening half, the corner-forward responsible for their 0-3 total.

Deane, Clancy, and Sheehan landed fine scores at the other end, but there was an element of wastefulness to Cork’s point-taking, similar to when presented with goal chances, the visitors clocking seven first-half wides.

Cork were rarely troubled during the second period, Luke Connolly the standout player in red. The Nemo man finished with 0-5 to his name, two apiece from play and frees, as well as an advanced mark. He did, however, shoot wide when presented with a chance of goal.

Leitrim sub Evan Sweeney, with his point on 62 minutes, became the first Leitrim player outside of Beirne to write his name onto the scoresheet.

Scorers for Cork: L Connolly (0-5, 0-2 frees, 0-1 mark); C Sheehan (1-2); C O’Mahony (0-3, 0-1 free); T Clancy, T Corkery, J O’Rourke, S White, P Kerrigan (0-1 each).

Scorers for Leitrim: K Beirne (0-7, 0-5 frees); E Sweeney, R Mulvey (0-1 each).

Cork: M Martin; K Crowley, T Clancy, L O’Donovan; T Corkery, S Powter, M Taylor; I Maguire, B Hartnett; R Deane, S White, J O’Rourke; M Hurley, C Sheehan, C O’Mahony.

Subs: L Connolly for Hurley (30 mins); P Kerrigan for O’Mahony, K O’Driscoll for O’Rourke (56); C Kiely for Powter (58); R Harkin for Sheehan (67).

Leitrim: D McKiernan; F McTague, P Maguire, C Reynolds; C McGloin, J Gilheany, A Flynn; O McCaffrey, D Wrynn; D Flynn, S Quinn, D McGovern; D Rooney, S Moran, K Beirne.

Subs: R Mulvey for McTague (HT); P Dolan for McCaffrey (45); E Sweeney for Rooney (52); R O’Rourke for Gilheany (54, inj); O McLoughlin for Moran (67).

Referee: P Maguire (Longford).

O’Flynn and Horgan goals help Cork hold off Tipperary challenge for success

Cork 2-24
Tipperary 1-25

Fintan O’Toole (The 42.ie)

Photo Courtesy of George Hatchell

AFTER OPENING WEEKEND reversals in the hurling league, the focus tonight in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh was on who could rebound best.

It took over 80 minutes before a result was delivered, the additional time due to a lengthy hold-up late on for treatment to Tipperary substitute John O’Dwyer. He shipped a heavy blow but there was good post-match news that he had not suffered a severe injury.

When time was called in front of a crowd of 9,821 it was Cork who had the scoreboard cushion that delivered the victory. The first night of February brought a contest that crackled to life during the second half as Tipperary mounted an assault on Cork’s advantage.

The opening half goals that Cork had plundered enable them to keep Tipperary at arm’s length while Patrick Collins did well in his net-minding duties for Cork. He was beaten by a rocket to the net in the 68th minute from a penalty by his opposite number Brian Hogan but the Ballinhassig man dealt capably with a few other scenarios where Tipperary threatened to raise green flags.

Cork’s attacking additions made a critical impact in the opening period. Alan Cadogan popped over 0-3 and Robbie O’Flynn contributed 1-2. The pair linked up to telling effect in the 11th minute, Cadogan turning his man and popping a handpass that released O’Flynn, the Erins Own man drilling in a shot that went past Brian Hogan at his near post.

O’Flynn was centrally involved in the second Cork goal as well on the cusp of half-time. Ronan Maher was caught in possession by a mixture of the tenacity of Declan Dalton and Seamus Harnedy, O’Flynn seized the break and charged through before being dragged down. Patrick Horgan smashed home the resultant penalty and Cork went in 2-13 to 0-15 to the good at the break.

Those scoring salvos were important in pushing Cork clear and came from two of their brightest attackers on the night. Horgan’s free-taking was vital in the second half while Darragh Fitzgibbon stepped up to make a fine impact when brought on.

Tipperary had their own emerging attacker with Mark Kehoe on song from the start. He snapped over three points in the first half and added another after the interval. At different times their established names of Padraic Maher and John McGrath influenced the course the game was taking.

Tipperary were ahead 0-15 to 1-11 approaching the interval but they shipped 1-2 in the time frame before they entered their dressing-room at the midway mark. That was a scenario they never recovered from despite their best attempts to overhaul Cork.

At various stages during the second half they got within two points of Kieran Kingston’s side but it was only after Hogan’s goal that Tipperary were within the minimum, 2-23 to 1-25. Then came that nasty looking injury to O’Dwyer and the game was stalled. When it resumed there was only one further score, Seamus Harnedy flighting over for Cork and a levelling score eluded Liam Sheedy’s men.

Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 1-9 (0-8f, 1-0 pen), Robbie O’Flynn 1-3, Alan Cadogan 0-4, Seamus Harnedy, Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-2 each, Luke Meade, Damien Cahalane, Mark Coleman, Aidan Walsh 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary: Mark Kehoe, John McGrath, Jason Forde (0-3f) 0-4 each, Brian Hogan 1-0 (1-0 pen), Padraic Maher 0-3, Jake Morris, Paddy Cadell, Cian Darcy 0-2 each, Alan Flynn, Ronan Maher (0-1f), Niall O’Meara, Jerome Cahill 0-1 each.

Cork

1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. Colm Spillane (Castlelyons)
3. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers)
4. Sean O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)

5. Chris O’Leary (Valley Rovers)
6. Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum)
7. Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s)

8. Bill Cooper (Youghal)
9. Luke Meade (Newcestown)

10. Robbie O’ Flynn (Erin’s Own)
11. Seamus Harnedy (St Ita’s)
12. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk)

13. Alan Cadogan (Douglas)
14. Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills)
15. Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers – captain)

Subs

21. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville) for Walsh (inj) (21)
20. Mark Coleman (Blarney) for O’Mahony (inj) (26)
24. Conor Lehane (Midleton) for Dalton (46)
22. Shane Kingston (Douglas) for Meade (61)

Tipperary

1. Brian Hogan (Lorrha-Dorrha)

23. Joe O’Dwyer (Killenaule)
3. Ronan Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
4. Seán O’Brien (Newport)

5. Séamus Kennedy (St. Mary’s)
6. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
7. Paddy Cadell (JK Brackens)

8. Alan Flynn (Kiladangan)
9. Willie Connors (Kiladangan)

10. John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney)
11. Cian Darcy (Kilruane MacDonaghs)
12. Michael Breen (Ballina)

13. Mark Kehoe (Kilsheelan-Kilcash)
14. Jason Forde (Silvermines)
15. Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg)

Subs

17. Jerome Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Cadell (inj) (26)
25. Niall O’Meara (Kilruane MacDonaghs) for Breen (33)
18. Séamus Callanan (Drom-Inch) for Darcy (46)
24. Bryan O’Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill) for Kennedy (53)
2. John O’Dwyer (Killenaule) for Forde (64)
19. Paul Flynn (Kiladangan) for John O’Dwyer (blood) (77)

Referee:James Owens (Wexford)

Boherbue carry Cork hopes in All Ireland Scór na nOg Finals

Cork’s lone hopefuls Boherbue take a short trek to Killarney’s INEC this Saturday for the All Ireland Scór na nÓg Finals. Promoting the cultural wing of the GAA, the diverse programme of music, song, dance to novelty act draws participants from all four provinces.
From the prestigious staging, Kanturk’s Muireann Vaughan will jointly act as Master of Ceremonies along with Conor Ó Ghallchoir from Donegal.
Boherbue stormed home impressive winners in the Munster Final at set dancing. They will seek to continue their victory march from a line up involving Shane Daly, Gavin Daly, Eoghan Moynihan, Eoghan Aherne, Carmel Kelleher, Elisha Daly, Aoife O’Riordan and Aoidhbe Ducey.
Meanwhile Boherbue return to familiar ground in the Question Time, a team of Leah O’Sullivan, Ailish O’Hanlon, Donal Murphy and Dan Sheehan hoping to better last season’s runner up position.