Armagh do enough as Cork misfire

Armagh 0-9 Cork1-3

A heavy, energy-sapping pitch and a tricky wind contributed to a scrappy encounter and it wasn’t pretty to watch. Neither was it very appealing to home supporters who were expecting something better after the impressive display in Croke Park the previous week. For a weakened Cork, another gutsy performance was tarnished by weak finishing.

Manager Larry Tomkins blamed the low scoring on the ‘hard conditions’, agreeing that the heavy pitch made it very difficult for both sides. Overall, his reaction was mixed. “Certainly we should have drawn level in the second-half and we had chances to take the lead,” he commented. “But, I was encouraged by our performance. We stood up to it, and we stood up to it physically. In conditions like these, all you can judge is the commitment of guys and how they get stuck into it - and I was proud of our lads.”

Joe Kernan felt that Cork’s goal (from Paudie Kissane early in the second-half), didn’t unduly affect them. “It put us on the back foot a wee bit, except that I thought we played fairly well at that stage. It’s very easy to get carried away after our Croke Park display , but a couple of days on pitches like this would certainly bring you down to earth.”

With Armagh having to replace the left flank of their defence, they faced a Cork side showing five changes from the Kerry game. Apart from midfielder Bernard Collins, centre back Graham Canty was also ruled out by injury.

Initially it appeared that the Cork defence could be in trouble early on, with the All-Ireland champions enjoying a strong wind advantage and content to play the ball in long and high. Notably, Stephen McDonnell won the first few tussles against Anthony Lynch, but by the midway stage of the half, Lynch was dominant and showed the way for the rest of the backs.

All that the home forwards could manage in 25 minutes play was three points, two from splendid sideline kicks by Diarmuid Marsden (their most consistent forward) and Paddy McKeever. This was largely due to their failure to penetrate often enough which, in turn, was the result of Cork’s confident defensive play. Kevin O’Dwyer , captain for the day, inspired the team with his safe handling and among the others, newcomer Alan O’Connor (creating his own history for the Rathluirc club) was to make a strong impression at full-back.

Additionally replacement midfielder Kieran Murphy won some good position while strong support play from the half-forward line helped ease the workload. Micheal Ó Croinin was quite competitive against Kieran McGeeney, while in the second quarter, Nicholas Murphy was seen at his best. But Armagh easily absorbed occasional pressure , helped at times by some wayward Cork passing. Colin Crowley, who scored 2-3 against Kerry, made little headway against Enda McNulty and it wasn’t until much later that Fionan Murray began to contribute at full-forward.

Armagh registered six wides before Oisin McConville pointed a 28th minute free and McDonnell put over from play following one of the team’s best moves up to then.

That was before Kevin O'Dwyer made a splendid save from a snap shot by Marsden after Lynch failed to hold the high ball. At the break, it was 0-6 to 0-2 for the home side.

Cork promised a goal as early as the second minute of the second-half when, from an opening created by Brendan Jer O’Sullivan, Kieran Murphy failed to transfer the ball to the unmarked Murray. However, they had better luck in the 48th minute when substitute Jim O’Donoghue broke down a free from Ó Croinin in the goalmouth and the hardworking Kissane finished it to the net.

Back in defence Lynch was a tower of strength and Eoin Sexton was also influential, as was John Miskella before he was forced off injured.

The story after that - with the half extending to 42 minutes - was one of Cork’s failing to capitalise on scoring chances when they were dominant and Armagh having the composure to recover and finish strongly. After Murray put over a good free in the 60th minute, Kieran Murphy missed a good chance of an equaliser. Very soon afterwards McKeever restored Armagh's confidence with another score from a sideline kick and Cork had lost Noel O'Leary - for a second yellow card offence, resulting from indiscipline, initially - before John McEntee put over one of the best scores of the game.

*Referee Seamus McCormack made mistakes on both sides, but not a lot, and overall handled the game well.

Scorers, Armagh: D. Morrison 0-3, (0-1 sideline), P. McKeever 0-3 (0-2 sideline), S. McDonnell , O. McConville (free) and J. McEntee 0-1.

Cork: P. Kissane 1-0, M. O Croinin (free), N. Murphy and F. Murray (free) 0-1 each.

ARMAGH: P. Hearty, E. McNulty, J. McNulty, P. McCormack; A. O’Rourke, K. McGeeney, (capt), K. Hughes, P. McGrane, J. McEnteee; P. McKeever, B. Duffy, O. McConville, S. McDonnell, D. Marsden, T. Entee. Sub. P. Loughran for Duffy (60 mins), A. Mallon (for McGeeney (70).

CORK: K. O’Dwyer (capt), N. O'Donovan, A. O’Connor, A. Lynch, N. O’Leary, E. Sexton, J. Miskella; N. Murphy, K. Murphy; B. J. O’Sullivan, M. O Croinin, P. Kissane, C. Murphy, F. Murray, C. Crowley. Subs. J. O’Donoghue for C. Murphy (injured 33), D. O’Sullivan for Crowley (55), C. McCarthy for Ó Croinin (57), S. Levis for Miskella (injured 69) R. O’Mahony for B. J. O’Sullivan (71).

Referee. S. McCormack, (Meath).