Cork forced to work hard

Cork 0-14; Antrim 2-5: It was far from an easy ride for Cork at Casement Park yesterday, but they still emerged with their unbeaten record in this year's league intact.

The visitors carved out a 0-14 to 2-5 victory and just about deserved to take the win.

However, had it not been for the accuracy of Jonathan O'Callaghan from frees, the result might have been different.

The wing forward slotted over eight points from placed balls and added another from play, never missing a chance to hit the target.

Antrim stormed off, against the strong wind, at high speed and were 1-1 to nil up after just four minutes. Ciarán Connolly scrambled the sliothar into the Cork net with his foot after failing to make connection with his hurley. It was a wake-up call to Cork who hit back with three points.

When O'Callaghan pointed a 65 in the 12th minute and sent over another free within 60 seconds, the teams were level at 1-2 to 0-5 and Antrim never again nosed in front as Cork hit four unanswered points and led at half-time by 0-9 to 1-3

Three points looked a slender enough lead as the visitors had to face the strong elements on the resumption, but rock solid full back Diarmuid O'Sullivan and half back Seán Óg Ó hAlpín were almost unbeatable.

Early second-half points by Brian McFall and Martin Scullion gave the home team hope of victory, but they didn't score again until one minute from time.

Cork managed just four points, despite midfield control, during the opening 30 minutes of the second period to lead by 0-13 to 1-5 as Karl McKeegan and Michael McCambridge were outstanding in the Antrim defence.

Then one minute from time a Seán Kelly sideline cut was rocketed to the Cork net by Liam Watson to leave just two points in the match and Antrim still very much in the game despite their weaknesses in attack.

Antrim couldn't get on equal terms and midfielder Paul Tierney polished off the losers with an injury-time point for Cork.

CORK: D Óg Cusack; W Sherlock, D O'Sullivan, M Prendergast; G Callinan, C O'Connor, S Óg Ó hAlpín; T Kenny, P Tierney (0-1); J O'Callaghan (0-9, eight frees), M Byrne (0-1), S McGrath (0-1); K Murphy (0-1), B Lombard (0-1), E Fitzgerald. Subs: N McCarthy for Byrne (34 mins), E Collins for Fitzgerald (51 mins), J Gardiner for McGrath (53 mins), J Deane for McCarthy (71 mins).

ANTRIM: D Quinn; M McCambridge, K Kelly, J Campbell; B Herron, K McKeegan, C Herron; J Connolly (0-1), M Scullion (0-1); M Herron, N Reynolds, L Watson (1-0); C Connolly (1-0), A Delargy, B McFall (0-3, two frees). Subs: G Cunningham for Campbell (45 mins), M Magill for Reynolds (51 mins), S Kelly for Connolly (63 mins), G Bell for M Herron (69 mins).

Referee: E Morris (Dublin).