Morgan upbeat as Cork give Dubs a drubbing

Cork 0-18 Dublin 1-6

And deservedly so. His side turned in a performance rich in quality and the eighteen points amassed pleased him no end. Said Morgan: “I’m delighted for the lads. They have been playing very well if only in patches. We’ve been lacking consistency over 70 minutes, but today, bar a few minutes after the restart, that consistency prevailed. Our focus was good and the lads got their reward, kicking some lovely points in the process.”

From the word go Cork tore into Dublin and inside 15 minutes, with man of the match Anthony Lynch and Nicholas Murphy sublime, had scored five points, the outplayed Dubs managing just one Conal Keaney shot at goal. In that time Dublin keeper Stephen Cluxton had to make a fabulous save from Brendan Jer O’Sullivan, James Masters obliging with the ‘45. Masters, who was excellent, added two more points, Micheál Ó Cróinín and Alan Cronin one each as Cork tore Dublin apart. From corner-back Kieran O’Connor, in for the injured Derek Kavanagh, with Niall Geary playing at full-back, Cork moved the ball with menace with the result that Dublin just couldn’t cope.

Admitted Dublin coach Paul Caffrey: “Cork played a brand of football we haven’t seen anywhere yet. We always get a tough game from them but what really impressed me was their scoring ability. Our players are devastated, but there will be no inquiry. Just a bad day at the office.”

Indeed it was, and it took another terrific save from Cluxton to again deny Brendan Jer in the 17th minute, Masters again converting the 45. It took Dublin all of 20 minutes to find the target Tomás Quinn pointing a free. The Dubs were getting a real drubbing at midfield. Shane Ryan was replaced by Darren Homan, but there was no stopping Murphy and Sean Levis, with Dublin only managing one more first-half point from Mark Vaughan as Cork went in at the break leading 0-11 to 0-2, all the forwards bar Kevin O’Sullivan on target.

Dublin needed a quick injection after the resumption and it came in the shape of a Jason Sherlock goal after only 30 seconds. And when Quinn and substitute Senan Connell added quick points, Cork’s lead was down to four. The examination now began.

But there was no self destruct button this time for although Dublin’s shape looked better, with Paul Casey now at centre-back and Brian Cullen and substitute Coman Goggin on the flanks, and Connell coping better with the magnificent Lynch, Cork were up for it. Points from Masters, Conor McCarthy and O’Sullivan restored Cork’s morale and by the 47th minute they were back in command leading 0-14 to 1-4. Cork may have lost the rhythm and sharpness of the first-half, playing it too tight at times, but their work rate was excellent and they controlled the game. Briefly Dublin responded again with points from Homan and another Quinn free. But when Homan was yellow carded for a bad foul on Lynch in the 56th minute their challenge capitulated. Cork lost Nicholas Murphy through injury and made several substitutions, the most notable being Colin Crowley who kicked three fine points. Masters had the last say though with his eighth point in all in a performance that had selector John Corcoran in buoyant mood. “We cut Dublin to shreds, opened them up at will. As I’ve said before, these are a good bunch of players. Anthony Lynch showed what a quality player he is today. We’ll go to Donegal now looking for another big result. It’s a game we are well capable of winning”, said Corcoran.

Cork scorers: J. Masters 0-8 (0-3 45s, 0-2 frees), C. Crowley 0-3 (0-1 free), A. Cronin, B. J. O’Sullivan, C. McCarthy 0-2 each, M. Ó Cròinín 0-1.

Dublin: J. Sherlock 1-0, T. Quinn 0-3 (0-2 frees), M. Vaughan, S. Connell, D. Homan 0-1 each.

CORK: K. Murphy; K. O’Connor, N. Geary, G. Murphy; E. Sexton, A. Lynch, M. Cronin; N. Murphy, S. Levis; J. Masters, C. McCarthy, A. Cronin; M. Ó Croinín, B. J. O’Sullivan, K. Sullivan.

Subs: D. Duggan for G. Murphy, P. Clifford for K. O’Sullivan. C. Crowley for Ó Croinín, N. O’Leary for A. Cronin, D. Hurley for N. Murphy, C. O’Riordan for McCarthy.

DUBLIN:S. Cluxton; P. Griffin, P. Christie, S. O’Shaughnessy; P. Casey, B. Cullen, P. Andrews; C. Whelan, S. Ryan; C. Moran, J. Sherlock, D. Lally; M. Vaughan, C. Keaney, T. Quinn.

Subs: D. Homan for Ryan, C. Goggins for Andrews, S. Connell for Vaughan, A. Brogan for Lally, D. O’Callaghan for Moran, Ryan for Homan.

Referee: S. Doyle (Wexford).

Yellow Card: Darren Homan (56 minutes).