Allianz Football League Division Two

CORK 2-11 LOUTH 0-10

By Dan Bannon at Páirc Uí Rinn

Cork are begining to find their groove in the Allianz Football League after their second win on the trot as they beat visitors Louth in their second home Páirc Uí Rinn.

Cork lost Kevin O’Driscoll and replacement Peter Kelleher to red cards in the second half as they struggled following a positive opening half.

Colm O’Neill was at the heart of this play, scoring a beautiful curling effort in the early stages to set Cork on their way his upward curve in form.

At the other end of the field, Ryan Burns for Louth, was in fine form, getting out in front of his marker Sean Wilson on every occasion, but his supply was minimal as his teammates were pinned into their own half at times such was the rebel pressure. Despite this, Burns notched three points from deadballs.

Michael Hurley came into the side at centre forward and his creativity and runs from deep resulted in four first half free’s for the aforementioned O’Neill and his Castlehaven clubmate Mark Collins. They both helped themselves to a brace of frees each in this period.

Sean White found the net with a low drive and followed up with a point soon after that flurry proved to be the cushion they would hang on to.

Winless Louth found Ryan Price in excellent form. On three occasions he kept out Burns, Ciaran Downey and Conor Early with point blank saves which Louth needed.

Impressive debutant, Cian Kiely notched a goal in injury time to give the scoreline a rather unfair look as Louth dominated the second period. Substitutes William Woods (three) and Geard McSorley did their best to inspire a comeback, but the first half gap was too much for them to bridge.

Pete McGrath’s team are finding this level rather difficult after two promotions in as many seasons, but the second half performance will give them hope. While Ronan McCarthy will gladly take another two points going into the break.

**Scorers for Cork: **Colm O’Neill 0-4 (3sf), Cian Kiely 1-1, Sean White 1-1, Mark Collins 0-3 (2fs), Michael Hurley 0-1 and Ruairí Deane 0-1.

Scorers for Louth: Ryan Burns 0-4 (3fs, ’45), William Woods 0-3 (3f) Andy McDonnell 0-1, Bevan Duffy 0-1 and Gerard McSorley 0-1. 

**CORK:**Ryan Price;Sam Ryan,Jamie O’Sullivan,Sean Wilson; Tomás Clancy, Conor Dorman,Cian Kiely; Ian Maguire, Ruairi Deane; Sean White, Stephen Sherlock, Kevin O’Driscoll; Michael Hurley, Colm O’Neill, Mark Collins.

Subs: Matthew Taylor for Stephen Sherlock (HT) Daniel O’Callaghan for S White (51) Dylan Quinn for C Dorman (59) Peter Kelleher for M Hurley (59) Cian Dorgan for I Maguire (65) Padraig Clancy for S Wilson (68).

LOUTH: Craig Lynch; John Bingham, Emmet Carolan, Fergal Donohoe;Darren Marks, James Stewart, Anthony Williams; Tommy Durnin, Bevan Duffy; Ciaran Downey, Andy McDonnell,Jim McEneaney; Derek Maguire, Conor Grimes, Ryan Burns.

Subs: Eoghan Lafferty for D  Marks (HT), Tommy Durnin for J McEneaney (HT) Gerard McSorley for C Early (52),  William Woods for R Burns (52), James Craven for J Bingham (52) Tadhg McEneaney for Conor Grimes (58).

REFEREE: Martin McNally (Monaghan).