Cork v Kildare: Two wins on the bounce for Rebels as five goals scored in the Páirc

Cork 2-15 Kildare 3-9 

CORK have recorded back-to-back wins in the Allianz Division 2 football league after seeing off a struggling Kildare side at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday evening.

John Cleary’s side picked up their first win of the new season the weekend before after a one-point victory away to Fermanagh after losing the first three games, and confidence was evidently up after that morale-boosting win above in Ulster.

The Rebels will be pleased with the win, even though the performance for the majority of the first half was far from impressive, but improved considerably after the break. More importantly, it’s another two points on the board.

Kildare are in serious trouble, with the Lilywhites pointless after five league outings, rooted to the bottom of the table with two league matches remaining, with relegation almost a certainty now for them.

Cork, aided by a strong wind in the first half, struggled to break down a stubborn Kildare defence in the first few minutes, but they got the first score after five minutes through a Brian O’Driscoll point, but it could have been a goal just as easy. Kildare did raise a green flag after eight minutes in their first meaningful attack, Daniel Flynn setting up Alex Beirne and the latter hammered the ball into the corner of the net, giving Cork goalkeeper Christopher Kelly no chance.

Kildare were opening up the Rebels rearguard too easily, with Flynn playing a major role in Kevin Feely fisting the ball over the bar, 1-1 to 0-1 after 12 minutes. The sides traded points before there was a lull, with Cork having more possession, but struggled to create scoring chances. Rory Maguire landed a much-needed white flag for the Leesiders after 22 minutes, but the Rebels' defence were under pressure, and the impressive Flynn billowed the back of the net from close range after 23 minutes, 2-2 to 0-3.

Kevin Flahive, soccer style on the volley, landed a point for Cleary’s charges, but in what was a stop-start 35 minutes of a half, Niall Kelly bisected the posts for the away side, but Chris Óg Jones replied at the other end with a fine point, 2-3 to 0-5 approaching added on time. Right on the half-time whistle, Cork got a huge score, when Tommy Walsh was on the end of a sweeping move and the Kanturk player finished brilliantly, 2-3 to 1-5 at the interval.

On the resumption, with Kildare now wind-assisted in the new half, it was Cork who started brightly and were level a minute in when O’Driscoll split the posts and the home side led when Conor Corbett pointed. The sides swapped points before a beauty from Colm O’Callaghan gave the Rebels a two-point buffer, 1-9 to 2-4 after 44 minutes.

Cork were a different animal in this half and a Brian Hurley point, his first of the evening, pushed Cleary’s side three points clear. The Rebels were in command, against a tired Kildare team at this juncture, as the home side kicked two of the next three points, 1-12 to 2-5.

The Rebels netted a fabulous goal after 52 minutes when Corbett, after a great catch, finished with aplomb. But, Kildare were then awarded a controversial penalty after Kevin O’Callaghan was fouled in the box, and Feely made no mistake, 2-12 to 3-5 after 54 minutes.

Cork landed three points on the trot to push 2-15 to 3-5 clear with five minutes remaining. The game petered out, as Kildare did kick the last four points, but they were merely consolation scores.

Scorers for Cork: C Corbett 1-2, C Óg Jones, B O’Driscoll, C O’Callaghan 0-3 each, T Walsh 1-0, B Hurley 0-2, K Flahive, R Maguire 0-1 each.

Kildare: K Feely 1-6 (0-3 f, 1-0 pen), D Flynn 1-1, A Beirne 1-0, N Kelly 0-2 (0-1 f).

CORK: C Kelly; K Flahive, D O’Mahony, T Walsh; L Fahy, R Maguire, M Taylor; I Maguire, C O’Callaghan; E McSweeney, M Cronin, B O’Driscoll; C Óg Jones, C Corbett, B Hurley (c).

Subs: S Meehan for R Maguire (26, inj), R Deane for E McSweeney (h-t), S Powter for M Cronin (52), S Sherlock for B Hurley (57), D Buckley for C Corbett (67).

KILDARE: M Donnellan; R Houlihan, M O’Grady, R Burke; P McDermott, E Doyle, J Sargent; A Masterson, K O’Callaghan; L Killian, A Beirne, S Farrell; K Feely, D Flynn, N Kelly.

Subs: B Gibbons for A Masterson (42), C Bolton for L Killian (45), S Ryan for E Doyle (49), S McCormack for A Beirne (52), B Byrne for J Sargent (67).

Referee: David Gough (Meath).