Cork footballers win on the road

Allianz National Football League Division 2

CORK 3-15 (3-0-15) OFFALY 0-19 (0-2-15)

Cork continue to quietly nudge themselves into the promotion conversation after they picked up their second road win in succession, this time against Offaly at Glenisk O’Connor Park.

John Cleary’s side have now won three games out of three, albeit it’s looking more and more likely that the relegation battle will be a three-way shootout between the sides that the Rebels have overcome. Meanwhile their four remaining opponents – Kildare, Meath, Derry and Tyrone – are all looking upwards at a potential path to Division One football. 

Certainly the pressure is mounting on Offaly, who left themselves with far too much to do at half-time.

The Faithful County had a decent breeze at their backs in the opening half, as evidenced by Cormac Egan and Keith O’Neill sending over elegant two-pointers, but they only raised two other flags for the opening 35 minutes while Cork were effectively home and hosed with 2-9 on the board. Mickey Harte and Declan Kelly were forced into some changes with Lee Pearson, Jack Bryant and Nathan Poland joining their extraordinarily long injury list, while in goal, they opted to give a league debut to MTU Kerry student Conor Melia.

Despite this, their troubles with retaining possession continued as Cork took a firm grip on proceedings around the middle.

Either end of the first half Colm O’Callaghan picked up a pass from Chris Óg Jones and blasted the ball past Conor Melia, while Seán McDonnell easily could have had a third if he had been six inches more accurate, instead of hammering his effort off the woodwork.

Throughout the 35 minutes the Rebels were patient and controlled in their play, winning plenty of possession and starving the Offaly attack of opportunities.

Harry Plunkett kicked one of his eight points to start the second half but a point from Steven Sherlock and Mark Cronin goal made it 3-10 to 0-7 with 39 minutes played and given the value of the wind, a landslide win looked like it might ensue.

Instead of powering on however, a black card for Rory Maguire stalled Cork’s momentum and Offaly had the better of the final 20 minutes, landing the last three points of the game as they tried to generate some positivity in advance of daunting trips to Omagh and Derry in the next fortnight.

For Cork, the bar will be raised from now on, but there will be plenty of good feelings down by the Lee after a Happy Valentine’s weekend in the midlands.

Scorers for Offaly: Harry Plunkett 0-8 (0-4f), Keith O’Neill 0-5 (1tp), Cormac Egan 0-3 (1tp), Niall Furlong 0-1, Jordan Hayes 0-1, Daire McDaid 0-1.

Scorers for Cork: Mark Cronin 1-4 (1f), Colm O’Callaghan 2-1, Steven Sherlock 0-5 (2f), Chris Óg Jones 0-2, S McDonnell, S Walsh, D Sheedy 0-1 each**.**

 

OFFALY: Conor Melia; Shane O’Toole-Greene, David Dempsey, Daire McDaid; Cormac Egan, Diarmuid Egan, Rory Egan; Jack McEvoy, Aaron Leavy; Marcas Dalton, Jordan Hayes, Keith O’Neill; Harry Plunkett, Ciarán Murphy, Eoin Sawyer. Subs: Niall Furlong for Sawyer (h-t), Darragh Flynn for Murphy (46), Eoin Dunne for Dalton (52), Dan Molloy for Leavy (64).

CORK: Patrick Doyle; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O’Mahony, Seán Meehan; Mattie Taylor, Rory Maguire, Luke Fahy; Colm O’Callaghan, Ian Maguire; Paul Walsh, Dara Sheedy, Seán McDonnell; Steven Sherlock, Chris Óg Jones, Mark Cronin. Subs: Ruairí Deane for Walsh (46), Seán Walsh for Maguire (51), Cathail O’Mahony for Jones (52), Micheál Aodh Martin for Doyle (59), Conor Cahalane for McDonnell (66).

Referee: Seán Lonergan (Tipperary).

Footballers beat Cavan in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Allianz Football League Division Two

Cork 0-24 Cavan 2-17

By Stephen Barry at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Steven Sherlock curled over a two-point winner as Cork came from seven points behind against Cavan to kick the final eight in a row for a nerve-shredding win at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The St Finbarr’s star marked his return to competitive inter-county action with a pair of orange flags off the bench to complete a remarkable turnaround.

That got Cork out of jail after a poor second-half performance as their Division Two promotion hopes got off the launchpad.

John Cleary made three changes from their McGrath Cup victory over Kerry, with Kanturk cousins Tommy and Paul Walsh and Brian Hurley introduced.

Dermot McCabe’s first League outing as Cavan manager featured competitive debuts for Corofin’s Ciarán Brady and Peter Corrigan. Paddy Lynch was a late withdrawal, replaced by Cormac Brady, but appeared after the break.

The fleet-footed visitors shot out of the traps with three points inside three minutes from Oisín Brady, Dara McVeety, and Gerard Smith.

Cork steadied as Colm O’Callaghan, Ruairí Deane, and Mark Cronin kicked three in response. In between, they almost had a flag of a different hue. Brian O’Driscoll’s two-point attempt came down off the post before Seán McDonnell collected the rebound and, eyeing the net, blasted wide.

Good defending by Smith prevented a similar chance for Seán Brady as McVeety countered to score.

Cork leapt ahead when McDonnell was given too much time on the arc to launch a two-pointer, and Cronin extended that advantage.

But Cavan were back in front after 16 minutes when Conor Brady handed off O’Callaghan and squared the ball for McVeety to palm in. The Breffnimen led 1-4 to 0-6, but that would prove their last lead of the half.

Paul Walsh pointed before Cronin converted the only placed ball of a flowing first period. At the other end, Ryan Donohoe’s radar was off as he compiled four wides.

Luke Fahy and Cronin edged Cork two ahead, but McVeety took his tally to 1-3 and Oisín Brady punished a misdirected kick-out with a smart one-two move from the sideline to curl over.

Hurley had Cork’s last three points of the half, including a closing two-pointer to make it 0-13 to 1-8 at the break.

After Fahy’s second point, Cavan flipped the script. As the home crowd grew impatient with Cork’s over elaboration, the visitors reeled off 1-4 without reply. Gearóid McKiernan came into the game with a point, a two-point free after Cork failed to hand the ball back, and a series of kick-out wins. Meanwhile, McDonnell was denied a goal by Liam Brady.

Ciarán Brady (Arva) struck 1-1 to complete the full set of forwards scoring, with McVeety sending him through to rattle the net. Niall Carolan came close to another goal when firing over.

Cavan led 2-14 to 0-16 when Ryan Brady was sin-binned, but they couldn’t initially close the gap. They conceded the next three points, including a two-point free from Lynch for a 4v3 breach. That 59th-minute conversion would prove their last score.

The comeback began with scores from McDonnell, a Sherlock two-pointer, and a Cronin mark.

That made it a one-score game. Progress continued with a Cronin free before Chris Óg Jones became the sixth starting forward to get off the mark.

Their escape was complete when Sherlock was fouled as he attempted to get off a two-point attempt before coming back to curl over the winner.

Scorers for Cork: Mark Cronin 0-7 (3 frees, 1 mark); Steven Sherlock 0-4 (1tp, 1tpf); Seán McDonnell (1tp), Brian Hurley (1tp) 0-3 each; Luke Fahy, Paul Walsh 0-2 each; Colm O’Callaghan, Ruairí Deane, Chris Óg Jones 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cavan: Dara McVeety 1-4; Ciarán Brady (Arva) 1-1; Gearóid McKiernan (1tpf), Paddy Lynch (1tpf, 1f) 0-3 each; Oisín Brady 0-2; Niall Carolan, Gerard Smith, Tiarnan Madden, Peter Corrigan 0-1 each.

Cork: Patrick Doyle; Seán Brady, Daniel O’Mahony, Tommy Walsh; Brian O’Driscoll, Rory Maguire, Luke Fahy; Colm O’Callaghan, Seán Walsh; Ruairí Deane, Seán McDonnell, Paul Walsh; Mark Cronin, Brian Hurley, Chris Óg Jones.

Subs: Matty Taylor for R Maguire (46), Dara Sheedy for Deane (48), Ian Maguire for S Walsh (48), Steven Sherlock for Hurley (53), Maurice Shanley for Brady (60).

Cavan: Liam Brady; Jason McLoughlin, Paddy Meade, Cormac Brady; Oisín Brady, Niall Carolan, Conor Brady; Ciarán Brady (Corofin), Ryan Donohoe; Ciarán Brady (Arva), Gerard Smith, Peter Corrigan; Tiarnan Madden; Gearóid McKiernan, Dara McVeety.

Subs: Tristan Noack Hofmann for Conor Brady (27-29, temp), Paddy Lynch for Corrigan (43), Ryan Brady for Ciarán Brady (Corofin) (48), Darragh Lovett for Ciarán Brady (Arva) (60), Noack Hofmann for Carolan (66), Eoin Clarke for Donohoe (69).

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry).

Cork make emphatic start with dominant win over Tipperary

A strong Cork performance saw 13 different scorers contribute to a commanding 1-26 to 0-10 victory over Tipperary at Cappawhite as the Rebels opened their season in impressive fashion.

Ruairí Deane marked his first start since 2024 with an early goal, while Seán McDonnell was outstanding from play, finishing with 0-6 including a two-pointer, as Cork asserted control from the opening exchanges.

Cork were 1-4 without reply inside the opening four minutes. Deane, captaining the side on the day, opened the scoring with a handpassed point after just 22 seconds before palming to the net in the third minute following a pass from Chris Óg Jones. In between, McDonnell struck an early two-pointer to underline Cork’s intent.

Tipperary captain Paudie Feehan registered their first score from play and later produced an excellent goal-line save to deny Jones, but Cork continued to dominate. Further two-pointers from Cathail O’Mahony and centre-back Rory Maguire, along with a Mark Cronin free for a 4v3 breach, helped Cork to a commanding 1-11 to 0-3 half-time lead.

After the break, Mark Russell raised Tipperary’s only orange flag of the afternoon, but Cork’s grip on the game never loosened. Maguire powered forward to add another two-pointer, while Colm O’Callaghan showcased his versatility with three points – off his right, left, and fist.

John Cleary’s bench made a telling impact, with five substitutes getting on the scoresheet. Steven Sherlock marked his return to the Rebel panel with a point, while Denis O’Connor registered his first senior score on debut as Cork comfortably saw out the contest.

Scorers for Cork:
S McDonnell 0-6 (1 two-pointer), M Cronin 0-4 (1 two-pointer, free), R Deane 1-1, C O’Callaghan 0-3, R Maguire 0-2 (1 two-pointer), C O’Mahony 0-2 (1 two-pointer), B Hurley (free) 0-2, S Walsh, C Cahalane, M Taylor, S Sherlock, L Murphy, D O’Connor 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tipperary:
S O’Connor 0-4 (0-2 frees), M Russell 0-2 (1 two-pointer), E Moloney, P Feehan, C Smith (free), M Barlow 0-1 each.

Cork:
P Doyle (Knocknagree); M Shanley (Clonakilty), S Meehan (Kiskeam), K O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers); B O’Driscoll (Carrigaline), R Maguire (Castlehaven), L Fahy (Ballincollig); C O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), S Walsh (Mitchelstown); R Deane (Bantry Blues, capt), S McDonnell (Mallow), C Cahalane (Castlehaven); M Cronin (Nemo Rangers), C Óg Jones (Uibh Laoire), C O’Mahony (Mitchelstown).

Subs:
D Cashman (Millstreet) for B O’Driscoll, D O’Mahony (Knocknagree) for M Shanley, L Murphy (Cullen) for C O’Mahony (all h-t); D O’Connor (Knocknagree) for C Óg Jones, D Newman (St Finbarr’s) for P Doyle (both 36); B Hurley (Castlehaven) for M Cronin, S Sherlock (St Finbarr’s) for S McDonnell, C O’Shea (Kilshannig) for K O’Donovan, M Taylor (Mallow) for S Walsh (all 46).

Tipperary:
R McGrath; E Moloney, E O’Connell, M McFadden; D O’Brien, P Feehan (capt), L Boland; M Russell, K Costello; C Deely, B Carey, N Heffernan; C Smith, S O’Connor, M Barlow.

Subs:
J Harney for D O’Brien (25), M Stokes for B Carey (h-t); B O’Connor for L Boland, S Ryan for R McGrath, M Lowry for N Heffernan (all 46); N Heffernan for M Russell (62, inj).

Referee: Seán Joy (Kerry)

Cork Football League Fixtures

 

 

Cork’s Allianz Football League Programme for 2026 is below