Cork footballers close in on promotion with nine-point win over Kildare
Chris Óg Jones of Cork celebrates after scoring a goal against Kildare. Picture: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Cork are closing in on promotion from the Allianz Division 2 Football League after a strong first-half display propelled them to a nine-point victory over Kildare at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening.
John Cleary’s side suffered a 20-point loss last time out away to Derry and knew that a win was the only option in this penultimate league fixture.
Backed by a healthy attendance at the Boreenmanna Road venue, the Rebels were full value for this victory.
They did the groundwork in the opening 35 minutes albeit wind-assisted.
Cork got eight two-pointers, all in the first half, as they led by 16 points at the break.
They managed the second half pretty well despite losing goalkeeper Patrick Doyle to a black card. Micheál Aodh Martin went in and did excellently, including a penalty save and making three cracking stops.
Cork are now second in the table going into the last day, two points ahead of Derry, knowing a positive result away to Tyrone would send the Rebels up. If Derry lose to Cavan, Cork could still be promoted without a victory in Omagh next Sunday.
Cork made the most of the wind in this one. Steven Sherlock landed an orange flag after two minutes. Seán McDonnell then had a goal chance after a clever pass by Dara Sheedy, but the effort got deflected out for a 45, which Sherlock converted.
Cork continued to dictate play, Mark Cronin and a sweet Dara Sheedy effort pushed the home side five points clear before Kildare did get their first score after nine minutes through Colm Moran.
Darragh Kirwan did leave three points in it before two two-pointers from Sheedy and Luke Fahy gave Cork a 0-9 to 0-2 buffer after 12 minutes.
A Chris Óg Jones effort and another Sherlock orange flag opened up a ten-point lead. Cleary’s charges tacked on a Jones two-pointer and a Fahy effort before Brian McLoughlin tapped over an easy free for Kildare, 0-15 to 0-3 after 22 minutes.
Jones slotted over Cork’s sixth two-pointer until Kildare netted a goal ten minutes before the break when sub Brendan Gibbons finished to the net from close range.
Cork though responded with their own green flag two minutes later. Ian Maguire, Brian O’Driscoll and Cronin were all involved as it resulted in Jones slotting the ball into the corner of the net.
The goalscorer kicked over his side’s seventh two-pointer before Kildare did put three unanswered points together as they looked to make a comeback.
It never looked on the cards as Cork finished the half strongly with a Sherlock two-point free and a Jones white flag, 1-22 to 1-6 at half-time.
Kildare hit the first score of the new half through Colm Dalton as they looked to make use of the strong wind.
Cork though were composed and patient. Sherlock, Jones and Paul Walsh all bisected the posts as the Leesiders opened up an 18-point lead.
Sherlock pointed again before Kildare got their first orange flag courtesy of sub Ben McCormack followed by a fisted Moran effort, 1-26 to 1-10 after 45 minutes.
Jones could have put the game to bed but his goal-bound effort didn’t beat Kildare goalkeeper Cian Burke.
McCormack totted up his second two-pointer as the away side looked to stay in touch. Another sub, Jack Robinson, raised Kildare’s second green flag after 51 minutes, 1-26 to 2-12.
They were mere consolation scores in truth. Cork put together four unanswered points as they were in total control.
Ben Loakman did land a two-pointer for Kildare and then sub Alex Beirne pointed a free, 1-30 to 2-15.
Cork were then down to 14 players for ten minutes when netminder Patrick Doyle picked up a black card for a deliberate trip and a penalty was awarded after 58 minutes.
Micheál Aodh Martin replaced Sheedy and saved Beirne’s effort. Fahy then denied Brian Byrne a certain goal minutes later.
The final stages were scrappy but Cork saw it home. Kildare did get three scores on the trot including a Beirne orange flag, 1-30 to 2-19.
Jones got the last score of an action-packed game with a nice point.
Job done, now on to Tyrone.
C Óg Jones 1-9 (2 2pt), S Sherlock 0-10 (2 2pt, 1 2pt f, 0-1 45), M Cronin 0-4 (1 2pt), D Sheedy (1 2pt), L Fahy (1 2pt) 0-3 each, T Walsh, P Walsh 0-1 each.
B McCormack 0-4 (2 2pt), J Robinson 1-1 (0-1 f), B Gibbons 1-0, A Beirne (1 2pt, 0-1 f), D Kirwan 0-3 each, C Dalton, C Moran, B Loakman (1 2pt) 0-2 each, B McLoughlin (f), C Bolton 0-1 each.
P Doyle; M Shanley, D O’Mahony, S Brady; B O’Driscoll, T Walsh, L Fahy; C O’Callaghan, I Maguire (c); P Walsh, D Sheedy, S McDonnell; M Cronin, C Óg Jones, S Sherlock.
R Deane for S McDonnell, S Walsh for P Walsh (both 52), M Taylor for T Walsh (56), MA Martin for D Sheedy (58), D Cashman for M Taylor (58, temp), R Maguire for P Doyle (66).
C Burke; H O’Neill, P Spillane, B Byrne; L Kelly, E Lawlor, R Burke; C Bolton, K Feely (c); B McLoughlin, C Moran, C Dalton; S Doran, D Kirwan, B Loakman.
B Gibbons for K Feely (10, inj), B McCormack for L Kelly, A Beirne for S Doran (both h-t), J Robinson for C Moran (46), E Cully for B Loakman (64).
Liam Devenney (Mayo).
App?
