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.

Coach Billy Morgan heaped praise on his charges afterwards: “No one can quibble with the result. We were by far the better team, and were seen at our very best when down to 14 players and playing into the strong wind.

“It was then the character of this team shone through. Monaghan had reduced the deficit to the minimum and we had our backs to the wall there for a while, but our lads’ heart and spirit came shining through and it was Cork who finished the stronger team. That says it all about this group of players. We came up here knowing only a win would do for us to survive in the division, and the lads responded magnificently.

“We controlled midfield from the throw-in and once that area is won, a team has every chance of winning.”

This game fell way short of championship pace, primarily due to the difficult conditions. Cork won the toss and played with the elements in the first half., which was delayed by 20 minutes due to the GPA protest.

Thomas Freeman struck first for the home side with a second-minute point but Cork were level a minute later through David Niblock. Cork struggled for scores but they lost a glorious chance of a goal in the eighth minute when the ball broke kindly for Kevin O’Sullivan, but with only the keeper to beat he blazed over the bar.

Monaghan opted to play full-forward Ray Woods further outfield, which suited the Cork defence as loose man Michael Prout mopped up every ball that came his way. However, the visitors found it hard to come by scores and had registered only three points after 20 minutes.

As the half wore on they added two further points, the second a splendid effort by U21 star Daniel Gould, a late substitution for the injured James Masters.

Cork held a three-point lead by the time the referee - who flashed six yellow cards and one red - blew for half time.

The home side resumed with Woods back in his original position, but it was Cork who continued to make the running with two points in a row. Monaghan had it all to do if they were to turn this game around.

They began to whittle away the Cork lead and after Paul Finlay pointed a free, he set up Paul McGuigan for what looked to be a certain goal, but McGuigan, like O’Sullivan in the first half, blazed over the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Monaghan had their tails up and after Cork lost Noel O’Leary - who was having an excellent match at wing back - for a second yellow offence, Finlay showed his class with two points and the deficit was down to one with ten minutes remaining.

However, Cork showed marvellous composure in defence, where goalkeeper Graham Canty, Ger Spillane and Michael Shields revelled in the close exchanges. Then, in a breakaway attack, Sean Levis won a free which Kevin O’Sullivan pointed.

With eight minutes to go Philip Clifford was introduced and he soon made his presence felt, putting Kevin O’Sullivan through. O’Sullivan’s first effort was brilliantly saved by Monaghan keeper Shane Duffy but the ball broke to the Corkman who palmed home the goal which killed off the home challenge.

Monaghan coach Seamus McEnaney was hugely disappointed afterwards: “We went into this game confident that the team we picked which was our strongest all season, would win the game and keep us in the higher division. The lads are gutted, I’m gutted, everyone is gutted.

“We were chasing the game from the start after losing the toss, and while we did manage to peg them back to a point late in the second half, we simply weren’t good enough on the day.”

Scorers: Cork: K. O’Sullivan 1-4 (0-3 frees); D. Goulding 0-2; D. Niblock, D. Kavanagh, F. Gould 0-1 each. Monaghan: P. Finlay 0-3 (0-2 frees); R. Woods 0-02; R. Freeman, E. Lennon, P. McGuigan 0-1 each.

CORK: A. Quirke; M. Shields, G. Canty, M. Prout; N. O’Leary, G. Spillane, S. Levis; D. Kavanagh, D. Hurley; C. McCarthy, D. Niblock, N. Murphy; D. Goulding, F. Gould, K. O’Sullivan.

Subs: K. McMahon for Murphy; D. Duggan for Goulding; P. Clifford for Gould; J. Whycherly for Levis.

MONAGHAN: S. Duffy; C. Flanagan, J. Coyle, D. Morgan; K. Sheerin, V. Corey, D. McArdle; P. Finlay, E. Lennon; S. Gollogly, D. Freeman,. D. Clerkin; T. Freeman, R. Woods, P. McGuigan.

Subs: B. McKenna for Lennon; K. Tavey for McGuigan; H. McElroy for Clerkin; C. Hanratty for Gollogly.

Referee: M. Deegan (Laois).