Cork do enough to beat stubborn Offaly

Cork failed to impress despite a six-point victory over a stubborn Offaly side at Pairc Ui Rinn yesterday.

It was a low-key tie, with Cork always heading for their second victory of the campaign, but the winning margin will not help their scoring difference should it matter at the end of the programme.

Offaly, who deserve full credit for battling right to the end, deployed right half forward Kevin Connolly as an extra defender, but this only allowed Cork wing back William Egan clear an amount of ball from his end.

The visitors enjoyed a promising opening quarter-hour when they took an unexpected 1-2 to 0-4 lead after 16 minutes. Derek Mooney’s long ball caught out Cork full-back Stephen McDonnell and Dan Currams found the net.

Indeed, Offaly almost snatched a goal minutes earlier when Sean Ryan’s speculative lob was missed surprisingly by goalkeeper Anthony Nash, but outstanding corner back Shane O’Neill dived to sweep the ball off the line.

Currams’s goal roused Cork, who went on a scoring spree in the second quarter. Centre forward Seamus Harnedy had the struggling Ger Healion in a lot of bother, an early leg injury clearly restricting the centre back, who did not reappear for the second-half.

A goal after 23 minutes from a Pat Horgan close-range free raised the temperature as Cork piled on the scores.

Harnedy helped himself to three and dual player Aidan Walsh, who experienced a mixed afternoon, claimed another as Cork swept 1-11 to 1-3 in front after 31 minutes.

Other ideas
Cork's eight-point interval should have been the spur to drive on in the second half, but Offaly had other ideas. The accuracy of Brian Carroll and captain Joe Bergin from frees kept Offaly within sight of their opponents, who just couldn't pull away, their situation reflected in star man Conor Lehane held scoreless by Rory Hannify.

The introduction of the Geraghtys, Thomas and Peter, also impacted on Offaly, especially in a high-scoring closing quarter, when Offaly pointed four times on the spin to cut the lead to three points, 1-20 to 1-17 in a hectic finish.

And it would have been even tighter had Nash not pulled off a brilliant save to keep out Carroll’s attempt when the Offaly forward seemed certain to bag their second goal on the hour.

Sensing a possible nervous ending, Cork raised their challenge to score three unanswered points, two long-range efforts from Egan and the closing score from midfielder Lorcan McLoughlin.