Hugh O'Connor on form as Cork U20s lose challenge match to Kildare in the Páirc

Cork 0-13 Kildare 1-11

CORK lost out by a point to Kildare in their U20 football challenge game at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in a curtain-raiser to the senior game.

The Rebels started well with the likes of Hugh O’Connor, Ed Myers, and Darragh O’Brien impressing.

They raced into a three-point lead and were looking good early on, but once Kildare got back on level terms Cork never managed to get in front again as the visitors just about deserved their win.

Cork took the lead from the throw-in when Myers caught a long ball in from O’Connor and called for a mark from which he scored.

O’Connor increased Cork’s lead and Olan Corcoran made it 0-3 to no score after seven minutes.

Ryan Sinkey got Kildare’s first point, followed by one from Josh O’Donoghue from a mark.

The first goal chance came after 12 minutes when O’Connor was played in, but David McPartlin saved well to deny him a green flag.

A minute later Cork were denied another goal when Eoin Lawlor blocked Myers' effort, with O’Connor pointing the breaking ball to make it 0-4 to 0-2.

Niall Dolan pointed from a free for Kildare before they missed several chances to get back on level terms, with six wides to this point.

O’Donoghue had the sides level after 20 minutes before O’Connor put the Rebels back in front.

A minute later Kildare missed a great goal chance when Dolan played the ball to O’Donoghue and he blazed wide from in front of goal.

Ross Harris had the sides level for the second time before Kildare took the lead for the first time.

A long ball in from Sinkey dropped short and Harris fisted to the net, to make it 1-5 to 0-5.

Credit to Cork they responded well and got the next two scores, with Myers and O’Connor raising white flags.

Dolan made it 1-6 to 0-7 before McPartlin made another great save, this time denying Dara Sheedy a goal to see Kildare lead at half-time by two points.

McPartlin pointed from a free three minutes into the second half to put a goal between the sides and Dolan made it a four-point game.

Darragh O’Brien got Cork’s first score after the restart as they tried to get back on level terms.

Points from Sheedy, O’Connor, and Timmy Cullinane had Cork back on level terms, with 45 minutes played, 0-11 to 1-8.

But it didn’t take Kildare long to take the lead again when Fionn Cooke scored.

Dara Crowley increased their lead before Myers pulled a point back for Cork.

Kildare looked like getting a second goal when Ben Loakman bore down on goal, but a brilliantly time punch on the ball by Dan Twomey denied him a goal-scoring opportunity.

A late point from Luke O’Herlihy put one between the sides but Kildare hung on for the win.

Scorers for Cork: H O’Connor 0-5, E Myers 0-3, O Corcoran, D O’Brien, T Cullinane, D Sheedy, L O’Herlihy 0-1 each.

Kildare: R Harris 1-2 N Dolan 0-3 (1f), J O’Donoghue 0-2, R Sinkey, D McPartlin (f), F Cooke, D Crowley 0-1 each.

CORK: A Mannix (Dohenys); D Twomey (Ballinascarthy), M Óg O’Sullivan (Bantry Blues), F Leahy (St Michael’s); C Molloy (Nemo Rangers), D Buckley, (Douglas), S Copps (Mallow); R O’Shaughnessy (St Michael’s), D O’Brien (Glanworth); O Corcoran (St Mary’s), H O’Connor (Newmarket), A O’Sullivan (Aghabullogue); B Hayes (Nemo Rangers), E Myers (N Aban), D Sheedy (Bantry Blues).

Subs: T Cullinane (Ballinascarthy) for F Leahy (h-t), T Kiely (Mallow) for D Buckley (33 inj), D O’Donovan (Bishopstown) for A O’Sullivan (41), G Kearney (Kinsale) for O Corcoran, M Maguire (Castlehaven) for E Myers (both 50), M O’Connell (St Michael’s) for A Mannix, D Clifford (Éire Óg) for D O’Brien, L O’Herlihy (St Michael’s) for D Sheedy (all 55).

KILDARE: D McPartlin; R Fitzgerald, E Lawlor, E Mountaine; O Grufferty, J Harris, M Fitzsimons; D Crowley, TJ Nolan; F Cooke, N Dolan, C Dalton; R Harris, R Sinkey, J O’Donoghue.

Subs: M Gibbons for TJ Nolan (h-t), S Mahon for M Fitzsimons (36), S Savage for N Dolan, K Browne for J O’Donoghue (both 41), N Cramer for F Cooke, B Loakman for R Harris (both 50).

Referee: Brian Coniry, (Crosshaven).