Cork footballers hit two goals to secure vital victory away to Laois

Cork 2-12 Laois 0-10

CORK got their promotion bid from Division 2 South back on track with a deserved win over Laois at O'Moore Park this evening.

They'll now finish in the top-two in their section and face one of the sides from Division 1 North with promotion on the line if they can beat Clare away next weekend.

There was a dramatic start with Laois losing centre-back Colm Begley through injury at the throw-in and Cork snatching a goal inside two minutes.

It came from a lovely weighted pass from Luke Connolly over the defence for Sean White to run onto and finish with a low shot to the net.

Ian Maguire picked out Ciaran Sheehan with a long-range pass and his excellent 'mark' produced a super point to give Cork the ideal start.

Laois eventually settled, hitting three points without response for 1-2 to 0-4 by the 15th minute before Cork replied with a couple of quick-fire points from Maguire, who caught Micheal Aodh Martin's re-start and powered forward to nail a beauty, and Kevin Driscoll.

Cork grabbed their second goal in the 21st minute, when Laois lost possession easily in defence and White linked with Maguire to create the opportunity for Ruairi Deane, who dummied neatly, before finishing coolly.

Mattie Taylor, Sheehan and a Connolly special helped Cork lead by 2-7 to 0-7 at the interval.

The scoring rate dropped appreciably on the resumption with both sides struggling to add to their tallies, equally sharing six on the hour.

Laois keeper Niall Corbett kicked a couple of 45s while Maguire, O'Rourke and substitute Mark Collins, from a free, to keep two goals between the teams and Cork, who 'won' the second-half by 0-5 to 0-3, ran out worthy winners with Na Piarsaigh's Shane Forde completing the scoring.

Scorers for Cork: S White and R Deane 1-0 each, C Sheehan (0-1 mark), J O'Rourke, I Maguire 0-2 each, M Collins 0-2 f, K O'Driscoll, L Connolly, M Taylor, S Forde 0-1 each.

Laois: D Kingston 0-3 f, D O'Reilly, B Byrne 0-2 each, N Corbett 0-2 45, K Lillis 0-1.

CORK: M Martin (Nemo Rangers); S Powter (Douglas), D O'Mahony (Knocknagree), K Flahive (Douglas); K O'Donovan (Nemo Rangers), S Meehan (Kiskeam), M Taylor (Mallow); I Maguire (St Finbarr's, c), P Walsh (Kanturk); S White (Clonakilty), R Deane (Bantry Blues), K O'Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaighs); J O'Rourke (Carbery Rangers), C Sheehan (Éire Óg), L Connolly (Nemo Rangers). 

Subs: D Gore (Kilmacabea) for for Connolly 50, M Collins (Castlehaven) for White and C O'Callaghan (Éire Óg) for Sheehan 51, T Corkery (Cill na Martra) for Taylor 57, C Kiely (Ballincollig) for O'Donovan 58, S Forde (Na Piarsaigh) for Powter and D O Duinin (Cill na Martra) for O'Rourke 63.

LAOIS: N Corbett; R Pigott, M Timmons, G Dillon; T Collins, C Begley, P O'Sullivan; K Lillis, J O'Loughlin; E Lowry, P Kingston, D O'Reilly; B Byrne, D Kingston, E O'Carroll. 

Subs: A Farrell for Begley injured 1, M Barry for O'Carroll 50, G Walsh for D Kingston 51, E Buggie for O'Sullivan and M Keogh for Lowry 60, S O'Flynn for Byrne and B Carroll 66.

Referee: B Judge (Sligo).