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CORK 7-27 WESTMEATH 0-15
Courtesy of www.gaa.ie
Cork displayed their firepower to full effect at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday as they recorded a 33-point victory over Westmeath to make it three Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A games undefeated.
Despite being without Séamus Harnedy, Shane Kingston and Robbie O’Flynn, the Rebels’ reserves of attacking talent are deepening and, despite a slow start, there was never any doubts about the outcome here.
A ninth-minute goal from Alan Connolly – the first of two from him – helped Cork into a lead that wouldn’t be lost and they were 1-5 to 0-4 in front by the first-half water-break. While Killian Doyle replied for Westmeath, who were unlucky to lose Niall O’Brien and Davy Glennon to first-half injuries, Cork pushed on with points from Patrick Horgan, Alan Cadogan, Shane Kingston and Luke Meade and it was 2-9 to 0-5 on the half-hour as Meade finished off a lovely team move.
A third goal arrived as Daire Connery and Alan Connolly combined for Horgan to find the net and four points on the trot coming up to half-time gave Kieran Kingston’s side a 3-14 to 0-9 advantage.
By the time Westmeath would get their tenth point, from star forward Josh Coll in the 50th minute, Cork had an unanswered 4-5. Shane Barrett grabbed the fourth goal soon after the start of the second half and Horgan got his second in the wake of that after poor Westmeath defending.
On 41, Alan Cadogan profited from a Fitzgibbon pass to make it 6-17 to 0-9 and the seventh goal was Connolly’s second, touching home a lovely pass from sub Simon Kennefick, who was making his debut.
The period after the second-half water-break was little more than a procession for Cork, who finished with 13 different scorers – they have now gone three games unbeaten for the first time since the 2018 season. They are sure to find things more difficult next time out against All-Ireland champions Limerick, but they can take encouragement from the manner of the victory here.
Scorers for Cork: Patrick Horgan 2-4 (0-2 frees), Alan Cadogan 1-4, Alan Connolly 2-1, Shane Barrett 1-3, Luke Meade 1-2, Daire Connery 0-3 (0-2 frees), Tim O’Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Brian Turnbull (0-2 frees) 0-2 each, Conor Cahalane, Robert Downey, Seán Twomey, Seán O’Leary Hayes 0-1 each.
Scorers for Westmeath: Killian Doyle (0-4f), Josh Coll 0-5 each, Ciarán Doyle 0-2, Aaron Craig, Aonghus Clarke, Davy Glennon 0-1 each.
CORK: Ger Collins; Seán O’Leary Hayes, Eoin Cadogan, Seán O’Donoghue; Tim O’Mahony, Niall Cashman, Robert Downey; Darragh Fitzgibbon, Daire Connery; Conor Cahalane, Luke Meade, Shane Barrett; Alan Connolly, Patrick Horgan, Alan Cadogan. Subs: Tadgh Deasy for Meade, Simon Kennefick for Horgan (both 41), James O’Flynn for O’Mahony (48), Bill Cooper for Fitzgibbon (52), Brian Turnbull for Alan Cadogan (53), Seán Twomey for Connolly (54), Daniel Meaney for Connery (56).
WESTMEATH: Eoin Skelly; Darragh Egerton, Tommy Doyle, Brendan Doyle; Aaron Craig, Aonghus Clarke, Shane Clavin; Joey Boyle, Alan Cox; Niall O’Brien, Killian Doyle, Robbie Greville; Davy Glennon, Niall Mitchell, Josh Coll. Subs: Eoghan Ahearn for O’Brien (9, injured), Ciarán Doyle for Glennon (21, injured), Shane Williams for Ahearn (48), Conor Shaw for Doyle (58), Kevin Regan for Brendan Doyle, Peadar Scally for Craig (both 63).
Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford).
Picture courtesy of John O’ Brien
Cork 2-12 Laois 0-10
By Rory Delaney at MW Hire O’Moore Park
Cork claimed a well deserved win at MW Hire O’Moore Park.
Ronan McCarthy’s charges were just too clinical for Laois, punishing a few mistakes from the home side to get ahead in the first half, and holding them at arm’s length for the remainder of the game. Laois now face a relegation battle, while Cork face Clare in the final group game needing another result there to progress to the knockout stages.
Laois had a nightmare start, seeing Colm Begley forced off the field through injury with barely a minute gone and, while they waited to bring on his replacement, Cork struck for a goal. A clever pass from Luke Connolly set Sean White through on goal and he finished low past Niall Corbet to open the scoring.
Ciaran Sheehan added a point soon after, claiming a wonderful mark from Ian Maguire’s ball before tapping over from 14 yards. Laois needed a while to settle down and they eventually did, with Donie Kingston winning and then pointing a free in the eighth minute to open their account.
Another long ball reaped dividends for Cork again after that, John O’Rourke the scorer this time as he fisted over from close range. Laois were struggling to create chances at the other end but finally hit something of a purple patch around the 15th minute.
Brian Byrne, a late addition to the side, clipped over two points in quick succession before Danny O’Reilly lofted over a fine long-range score to get the home side back within one. Unfortunately for Laois, that was as good as the first half got.
Cork pointed twice before the water break, Ian Maguire and Kevin O’Driscoll providing the scores this time, before pressing home their superiority when play resumed.
They were helped by some sloppy Laois play, Gareth Dillon’s misplaced pass hoovered up by the Cork forwards who set Ruairi Deane away, the Bantry man jinking his way into the area before slotting into the bottom corner.
It was pedestrian enough from there to the half-time whistle, Cork edging it slightly to take a 2-7 to 0-7 lead into the dressing rooms.
If Laois were hoping for an immediate upturn in their fortunes they were to be disappointed, even if Niall Corbet’s 45 gave them the opening score of the half. Cork replied soon after, winning a breaking ball in their own penalty area after Paul Kingston’s shot for goal was saved, working the ball quickly down field and pointing through Ian Maguire.
The same scenario repeated itself three minutes later, Evan O’Carroll seeing a shot blocked and Cork breaking at speed, John O’Rourke the scorer this time. The only other action of note in this period came when Luke Connolly’s shot for Cork missed the target in the 46th minute, the first wide they registered in the game.
Niall Corbet again came up from between the posts to float over a 45 for Laois with Danny O’Reilly adding another for the home side before the water break to see them within five heading into the final quarter.
They would never get closer than that though, failing to score again as Cork tacked on three more points through subs Mark Collins (two frees) and Shane Forde to run out comfortable eight point winners in the end.
Scorers for Laois: Donie Kingston 0-3 (3fs), Danny O’Reilly, Brian Byrne, Niall Corbet (2 45s) 0-2 each, Kieran Lillis 0-1.
Scorers for Cork: Sean White, Ruairi Deane 1-0 each, John O’Rourke, Ciaran Sheehan (1m), Ian Maguire, Mark Collins (2fs) 0-2 each, Kevin O’Driscoll, Luke Connolly, Mattie Taylor, Shane Forde 0-1 each.
LAOIS: Niall Corbet; Robbie Pigott, Mark Timmons, Gareth Dillon; Trevor Collins, Patrick O’Sullivan, Colm Begley; Kieran Lillis, John O’Loughlin; Brian Byrne, Eoin Lowry, Danny O’Reilly; Paul Kingston, Donie Kingston, Evan O’Carroll.
Subs: Alan Farrell for Begley (2 mins, inj), Mark Barry for O’Carroll (51), Gary Walsh for D Kingston (52), Michael Keogh for Lowry (60), Eoin Buggie for O’Sullivan (60), Sean O’Flynn for Byrne (66), Benny Carroll for P Kingston (66)
CORK: Míchael Martin; Sean Powter, Daniel O’Mahoney, Kevin Flahive; Kevin O’Donovan, Sean Meehan, Mattie Taylor; Ian Maguire, Paul Walsh; Sean White, Ruairi Deane, Kevin O’Driscoll; John O’Rourke, Cíaran Sheehan, Luke Connolly.
Subs: Damien Gore for Connolly (51), Colm O’Callaghan for Sheehan (53), Mark Collins for White (53), Tadhg Corkery for O’Donovan (58), Cian Kiely for Taylor (59), Dan Dineen for O’Rourke (64), Shane Forde for Powter (64).
REFEREE: Barry Judge (Sligo)
Cork Senior Hurling team to play Westmeath on Sunday in Allianz Hurling League Round 3 has been announced.
Cork Senior Football team to play Laois in Allianz Football League has been announced. The game will take place on Saturday at 7pm. It will be streamed live on GAAGO.
