14-man Cork dig deep to survive

Monaghan 0-8 Cork 1-9

The win was achieved playing with 14 men for the last 17 minutes and into the teeth of a bitterly cold wind. It didn’t look likely after Noel O’Leary was sent off for a second bookable offence, and Monaghan had succeeded in reducing the half-time deficit of 0-5 to 0-2 to a point with ten minutes to go.

Cork showed marvellous composure however in those closing minutes and substitute Philip Clifford showed just how valuable a player he will be when fully match fit, setting up the hugely impressive Kevin O’Sullivan for the all-important goal which gave the Leesiders a five point cushion; they were never going to be caught from that position.