Cork selectors happy with display before Clare showdown

Cork 2-24, Offaly 0-9

Team captain Browne sustained a groin injury when hit by the ball, centre-back Curran hobbled off with a calf injury, while wing forward McCarthy twisted his ankle.

All three will be on the treatment table ahead of Cork’s Munster championship clash with Clare at Semple Stadium, Thurles in less than a fortnight’s time.

Apart from the injury worries the Cork selectors will unquestionably be pleased with the form shown by their side in this final workout even though Offaly, who played Waterford the previous night, were a very listless outfit indeed.

Even with the aid of the exceptionally strong wind in the opening half Offaly failed dismally to make any impression whatsoever, and when the outstanding Setanta Ó h-Ailpin opened the floodgates in the fourth minute when he flicked home an accurately directed Micky O’Connell ‘65’, only the margin of victory remained in doubt.

All the Cork forwards and both midfield players, O’Connell and Derek Barrett, scored as Cork effortlessly brushed Offaly aside. Setanta Ó h-Ailpin, operating in the right corner, was Cork’s most potent attacker, while Joe Deane with five points and McCarthy with three, before his departure, also produced some good touches, as did Ben O’Connor.

O’Connell and Barrett dominated midfield, while the Cork defence, with Sean Óg Ó h-Ailpin, in particular, looking very sharp, never gave their hapless opponents a look in. Only two Offaly players, brilliant goalkeeper Brian Mullins and effective left corner forward Damien Murray, who scored five of their nine-points total, impressed as Cork built-up an unassailable interval lead of 1-11 to 0-6.

Cork, completely on top in every department, stretched their lead to 10-points before Setanta Ó h-Ailpin pounced for his second goal in the 40th minute.

But for the heroics of Mullins the Na Piarsaigh striker could have snatched four and is a certainty to make his senior championship debut.

With victory assured Cork introduced eight substitutes and continued to lord it over a totally outclassed Offaly side.

Scorers for Cork: S. Ó h-Ailpin 2-1; J. Deane 0-5 (0-3 from frees); T. McCarthy 0-3; B. O’Connor 0-2; M. O’Connell 0-2; S. McGrath 0-2; M. Byrne 0-2; A. Browne, S. Og Ó h-Ailpin, R. Curran, K. Murphy, J. O’Connor, J. Anderson and D. Barrett 0-1 each.

Offaly: D. Murray 0-5 (0-2 from 65s); S. Whelahan 0-3 (0-1 from free); J. Erritty 0-1.

CORK: D. Og Cusack; W. Sherlock, P. Mulcahy, D. O’Sullivan; S. Og Ó h-Ailpin, R. Curran, T. Kenny; M. O’Connell, D. Barrett; B. O’Connor, M. Byrne, T. McCarthy; S. h-Ailpin, J. Deane, A. Browne

Subs: S. McGrath for McCarthy (injured); K. Murphy for Browne (injured); J. Anderson for Curran (injured); J. Gardiner for Barrett; A. Coughlan for S. Ó h-Ailpin; J. O’Connor for B. O’Connor; B. Murphy for O’Sullivan. A. Fitzpatrick for Kenny.

OFFALY: B. Mullins; B. Teehan, G. Oakley, J. P. O’Meara; D. Franks, M. O’Hara, C. Cassidy; M. Cordial, A. Hanrahan; B. Carroll, G. Hanniffy, R. Hanniffy; S. Whelahan, J. Erritty, D. Murray.

Subs. N. Claffey for Oakley; P. Corcoran for Hanrahan; D. Tanner for Cassidy; M. Redmond for Franks.

Referee: P. Moore (Waterford)