Allianz FL D2: Cork pass Louth litmus test

Allianz Football League Division 2

Cork 1-17 Louth 1-12

By Dan Bannon at the Integral GAA Grounds

Cork passed somewhat of a litmus test by winning on the road against Louth in Drogheda. The manner of the victory rather than geography may please manager John Cleary more.

Both sides have failed to beat each other in opposing counties in recent seasons. Cleary will be extra happy to buck that trend considering he did not have fond memories of the Gaelic Grounds

In the Leesiders last visit to the Drogheda venue back in 1994 the Castlehaven man missed two penalties in the first half as his side missed out on promotion to Division 1.

Promotion may well be on the cards this season as Cork simply outplayed their hosts all afternoon to ease to a five point win.

Two of last year's Louth under 20’s All-Ireland finalists came into the side at the 25th hour for their league debuts

Dundalk Gaels man Padraic Tinnelly came in at cornerback, while Tiernan Markey came in at the expense of Leinster winning netminder Niall McDonnell, who was sensationally dropped.

A bright start for the home side saw two wides and a frazzled Patrick Doyle kick out that led to a Sam Mulroy free to open the scoring as Cork did struggle with their new surroundings.

Cork in white, dirtied their bibs straight away but it would not be long before they got up to speed.

The big difference between the two red and white sides was Steven Sherlock.

Recalled to the starting line up, the Barr’s man levelled the game for the second time in ten minutes with a tap over free but would steer his side over the line in the one sided second half.

Patience was a virtue Conor Grimes possessed when he ended Louth’s long spell of wastefully slow attacks in the opening quarter. Tommy Walsh and Chris Og Jones overran the hosts defence to open some daylight between the sides just beforehand.

At a crucial juncture, All-star Mulroy went for goal and dragged his shot wide as the Leinster champions wides tally counted up.

At the other end, from the resultant short kick out, Chris Og Jones lashed past debutant Markey with a fine strike. Teed up by a Brian Hurley hand pass, Jones had little to do but made absolutely certain of the vital goal.

Louth’s response was again laboured but they did hit back with two scores and rode their luck when Mark Cronin struck the post with a free. The Nemo Rangers man would redeem himself straightaway to start a match winning finish to the first half.

Not for the last this season, Hurley and Sherlock combined to raise two orange flags before the interval to quell Louth’s chances and take a real strangle hold going in 1-10 to 0-5 at the break.

Louth threw everything they had at the Munster men at the start of the second half, outscoring them five points to two, and cutting the gap to a manageable five points.

Substitute Tadhg McDonnell capped three points in a row to awaken the home support before Sherlock silenced the noise with three placed balls in a row. Louth full back Dermot Campbell’s late searching ball from distance found the net with the game's last consolation kick.

Scorers for Cork: Steven Sherlock 0-8, (4f, 1 tpf, 1’45), Chris Og Jones 1-1, Brian Hurley (1 tp), Sean McDonnell and Mark Cronin 0-2 each, Tommy Walsh and Luke Fahy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Louth: Sam Mulroy 0-6 (3f, 1 ’45), Dermot Campbell 1-0, Craig Lennon, Ciaran Downey 0-3 (1tp), Conor Grimes and Tadhg McDonnell 0-1 each

LOUTH: Tiernan Markey; Padraic Tinnelly, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Eoghan Callaghan, Peter Lynch, Craig Lennon (0-01); Dara McDonnell, Conor Early; Paul Mathews, Sam Mulroy, Conor Grimes; Ciaran Keenan, Ciaran Downey, Ryan Burns. Subs: Tadhg McDonnell for Callaghan (ht), Sean Callaghan for Mathews (44), Daire Nally for Grimes (54), Conall McCaul for Keenan (58), Sean Reynolds for Early (62).

CORK: Patrick Doyle; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O’Mahony, Tommy Walsh; Matty Taylor, Brian O’Driscoll, Luke Fahy; Colm O’Callaghan, Sean Walsh; Paul Walsh, Sean McDonnell, Chris Og Jones; Mark Cronin, Brian Hurley, Steven Sherlock. Subs: Rory Maguire for Taylor (45), Ian Maguire for S Walsh (blood 48), Ruairi Deane for P Walsh (53), Dara Sheedy for Cronin (58), Conor Daly for Hurley (67), Jacob O’Driscoll for O’Driscoll (68).

REFEREE: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)