CORK 3-17
DOWN 0-15
ONE of the pleasing side effects of winning last year’s All-Ireland for Cork is the knowledge that they now possess the panel and the capacity to make the league a useful exercise for themselves. Beating Kerry in Tralee was a useful milestone. Losing to Dublin pointed up enough frailties to keep them humble. The way they made hay when Down wilted late on last night will please them, too.
Any notion that the Cork public would substitute their indifference towards their footballers with a new sense of deference now they have an All-Ireland medals in their pockets has quickly been punctured this spring. Last week’s attendance for Monaghan’s visit barely lipped over 1,000. A chance to see the crowd that almost gazumped them in an All-Ireland final didn’t attract many more.
What never bothered the Cork footballers before isn’t going to kick in now. What would have warmed them was the performance of those players on the fringes of the team, and those who often squandered these occasions in the past. Fintan Goold has kept a spot on the Cork panel since early in the last decade, but only occasionally delivered cameos like last night. Alan O’Connor was the dominant presence around centrefield. Paudie Kissane provided the drive from defence in Graham Canty’s absence. Daniel Goulding provided the core of Cork’s total, but Colm O’Neill matched him for skill and enterprise. It was a good night for Cork. They will know there is better to come.
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The game started at a brisk clip and didn’t lose stride till half-time. With Aidan Walsh replaced by Nicholas Murphy before the start, Alan O’Connor assumed the role of senior partner around the middle for Cork, and edged a ferocious battle with Peter Fitzpatrick early on. It provided the foundation for much of Cork’s best work. Cork were running at Down and drawing fouls. Daniel Goulding was potting his frees. Paudie Kissane was turning Danny Hughes frequently and making him defend.
Down weren’t shabby themselves when they got forward. Ronan Murtagh was hurting Michael Shields, while Martin Clarke did some neat work knitting Down’s play together. Two early points reflected Down’s bright start but Cork didn’t delay their response, and took barely six minutes to tear them up like a rag doll.
Pearse O’Neill’s goal after five minutes formed the centerpiece of their scoring burst, volleying home from 15 yards after a fine fist down from O’Connor was fed into O’Neill’s path by Kissane. A point from Fintan Goold two minutes later, and Down were suddenly four behind, 1-3 to 0-2.
The bounce in Down’s step already suggested they wouldn’t wilt or lose interest if the night turned against them, and the game settled into an engaging contest of counterpunching. When Cork got forward, their running game had Down scrambling to keep their shape. When they countered, Down exploited Cork’s brittle defensive spine, just as Dublin did a few weeks ago.
Kevin McKernan hit a towering score from centre-back. Mark Poland did the same from centre-forward. Murtagh hit two useful points from full-forward. Cork keeper Ken O’Halloran was almost hustled into dropping one ball behind the line, while another frantic attack ended with three Down players contriving to scuff a shot in front of goal, before a timely block from a Cork defender sent the ball spinning out for a 45.
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Down goalkeeper Cathal Murdock pointed the kick to leave a point between them with 10 minutes to half time. A booming shot from Clarke brought them level a few minutes later, and the game was near full throttle. A quick handful of scores before half time handed Cork a two-point lead, 1-9 to 0-10. In the context of such a tightly knotted game, it meant little or nothing.
So it continued. Cork rearranged their defence into a more familiar complexion, shifting Cadogan to the half-back line and allowing Noel O’Leary resume his stalking of Clarke from the All-Ireland final. None of it knocked a feather from Down. A pair of points from Hughes and Declan Rooney bookended one from Fintan Goold, before Clarke finally pulled them level after 43 minutes, 1-10 to 0-13.
Just like the first half, though, Cork’s response was prompt and clinical. Aidan Walsh came on to tighten Cork’s hold around centrefield. Two points inside a minute from Kelly pushed Down back. Another impressive score from Fintan Goold after 48 minutes got Cork three in front again.
Down didn’t appear to be spiraling into freefall, but as the game drained into the final quarter, they needed to get a foothold again.
Instead, Cork stood on their toes for the final time. After a point from Aidan Branigan got Down within two points after 52 minutes, Cork set about them. A point from Walsh started them off before a neat goal from Colm O’Neill pushed them six in front with 12 minutes left. Another point from Ciaran Sheehan, and Cork were suddenly out of sight.
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Down never caught another glimpse. Branigan was sent off late on as Cork continued to batter Down. A goal from Paddy Kelly with the final attack of the game finished off the scoring, and finally drew a proper cheer.
Even in a rout, Cork get nothing easy.
Star man: Alan O’Connor (Cork)
Red card: Branigan (Down)
Referee: D Fahy (Longford)
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Attendance: 1,500
Cork: K O'Halloran; R Carey, E Cadogan, M Shields; N O'Leary, P Kissane, D O'Sullivan (S Kiely 44mins); A O'Connor, N Murphy (A Walsh (0-1) 44mins); F Goold (0-3), P Kelly (1-2, 1f), P O'Neill (1-0); D Goulding (0-7, 5f), C Sheehan (0-2), C O'Neill (1-1) (D Goold (0-1) 63mins)
Down: C Murdock (0-1, 45); G McCartan, D Gordon, L Howard (C Garvey (0-1) 48mins); A Branagan (0-1), K McKernan (0-1), D Rooney (0-1); P Fitzpatrick (0-1), K King (J Colgan 44mins); D Hughes (0-1), M Poland (0-3, 2f), C Maginn; C Laverty (0-1) (J Clarke 57mins), R Murtagh (0-2) (P McComiskey 44mins), M Clarke (0-2) (A Carr 62mins)