Cork Finish Third after losing out to Tyrone;
All-Ireland SFC Group Three
Tyrone 1-18 Cork 0-17
By Paul Keane at Glenisk O’Connor Park
Ben Cullen’s 48th minute goal was the decisive score as Tyrone made it back-to-back wins in their All-Ireland SFC group – but it still wasn’t enough to secure top spot in Group 3.
The 2021 All-Ireland winners were full value for their Tullamore win with 10 different scorers on the day including Darragh Canavan who helped himself to 0-5.
Goalkeeper Niall Morgan was terrific again too, striking 0-3, including a point from open play, while the ultra experienced Mattie Donnelly maintained his strong form with another lion-hearted display.
Despite the win, Tyrone have still finished in second position in the group, meaning they will contest an All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final next weekend – though they will at least have home advantage.
Donegal, Tyrone and Cork all finished tied on four points at the head of the table, but Donegal’s superior scoring difference has clinched top spot for them, the reward for which is qualification for a quarter-final.
As for Cork, they have finished third and they will be away next weekend when they contest a preliminary quarter-final.
As things stand, Tyrone will be without powerful midfielder Conn Kilpatrick for next weekend’s Omagh clash due to a red card in the closing minutes here.
But the side jointly managed by Brian Dooher and Fergal Logan will take huge heart from their second-half performance, bouncing back from a one-point half-time deficit to outscore Cork by 1-9 to 0-7.
Cork’s hopes of securing at least the draw required to finish as Group 3 winners following victories over Limerick and Tipperary were hit by the loss of captain Brian Hurley.
The Castlehaven man was named to start but a reported hamstring injury ruled him out with Cathail O’Mahony taking his place in the matchday squad.
Steven Sherlock came into the lineup for Hurley, scored 0-8 overall and was heavily involved in an entertaining opening half, shooting three points and drilling a wide.
Cork led 0-10 to 0-9 at half-time but wides and wasteful play were a theme of the half with those 10 points collected from 17 shots, five of which went wide while another dropped short and Chris Og Jones struck a post.
Jones did redeem himself with three points from play in an opening half that was level seven times.
Sherlock was picked up by Padraig Hampsey while Cork full-back Daniel O’Mahony went head to head with Tyrone dangerman Darragh Canavan.
That was a thrilling tussle and while Canavan hit two points from play, O’Mahony broke at least even in that opening half while Canavan’s younger brother, Ruairi, delivered two important points also. Darren McCurry, such a scoring threat for Tyrone, was tracked by Tommy Walsh.
Both teams conceded a portion of their kick-outs, opting to retreat and get their defensive shape set with so much on the line at the midlands venue.
When they did press the kick-outs, some excellent scores accrued with Jones’ fifth minute point for Cork coming from a terrific Chris Kelly delivery to Kevin Flahive who was racing up the right wing and immediately fed Jones.
Ruairi Canavan’s 15th minute point for Tyrone came from a similar source, Red Hands stopper Morgan finding a white jersey with a long drive. Morgan played his usual sweeper ‘keeper role and assisted a terrific Kilpatrick score in the 31st minute with a sumptuous diagonal pass.
Tyrone stamped their authority on the game in the third quarter, capitalising on the 43rd minute black carding of Cork’s Jones for a trip on Morgan.
The game was level at 0-11 apiece when Jones left and when he returned 10 minutes later, Tyrone were 1-13 to 0-13 ahead.
Cullen did brilliantly for his goal, exchanging a series of passes with Ciaran Daly down the right before cutting in and firing to the net.
Darragh Canavan and McCurry added points to leave Tyrone five clear though Kilpatrick’s 63rd exit had the potential to halt their momentum.
The Edendork man was sent to the line following an off the ball incident though Tyrone took the setback in their stride, tagging on points from Morgan, Michael McKernan and McCurry to win with four to spare and, in truth, never looked like being reeled in.
Scorers for Tyrone: Darragh Canavan 0-5 (1f), Niall Morgan 0-3 (1f, 1 45), Ben Cullen 1-0, Darren McCurry 0-3 (0-1f), Ruairi Canavan 0-2, Conn Kilpatrick 0-1, Sean O’Donnell 0-1, Michael O’Neill 0-1, Niall Devlin 0-1, Michael McKernan 0-1.
Scorers for Cork: Steven Sherlock 0-8 (6fs), Mark Cronin 0-4 (2fs), Chris Og Jones 0-3, Brian O’Driscoll 0-2.
Cork: Christopher Kelly; Kevin Flahive, Daniel O’Mahony, Tommy Walsh; Maurice Shanley, Rory Maguire, Matty Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan; Sean Powter, Paul Walsh, Brian O’Driscoll; Mark Cronin, Steven Sherlock, Chris Og Jones.
Subs: Ruairi Deane for Powter 49, Conor Corbett for Walsh 54, Sean Meehan for Flahive 66, Cathail O’Mahony for Cronin 68, Killian O’Hanlon for O’Driscoll 70.
Tyrone: Niall Morgan; Niall Devlin, Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan; Ben Cullen, Mattie Donnelly, Aidan Clarke; Brian Kennedy, Conn Kilpatrick; Ciaran Daly, Ruairi Canavan, Michael O’Neill; Darren McCurry, Darragh Canavan, Sean O’Donnell.
Subs: Peter Harte for O’Neill h/t, Cathal McShane for Ruairi Canavan 64, Shea O’Hare for O’Donnell 68, Cormac Quinn for Cullen 69, Tiernan Quinn for Darragh Canavan 73.
Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).
