Cork stay on target for treble

The run of double-digit defeats came to an end but there was still that familiar chasm on the scoreboard between Cork and Down at the final whistle in Croke Park yesterday.

James McCartan has been unable to discover the knack of toppling Conor Counihan’s men since the 2010 All-Ireland final and, for the fourth time in 13 months, experienced that chastening feeling of defeat against Cork.

“We find it very difficult to beat them,” reflected McCartan.

“A couple of players missing out of our team is bigger miss to us than to Cork — and that is a compliment to the Cork squad.

“We tried something different to see how we could get something. For 50 minutes of the game, I felt that Cork, I am not going to say they were there for the taking, but they weren’t tearing it up. We are bitterly disappointed with the human error which we introduced into the game in the last 20 minutes. That cost us both goals.”

In a fortnight’s time Cork will have a shot at retaining ownership of the league trophy for a third successive year. It has been a spring where their football displays have been riddled with inconsistencies yet they erased some of those flaws yesterday, chalking up a healthy score. The driving force of their 2-17 return was Colm O’Neill, who produced his most complete performance of the season.

His 2011 campaign was destroyed by a snapped cruciate but his sharpness, movement and accuracy yesterday demonstrated that he has adjusted to the standard of inter-county football once more. He weighed in with 1-6 and the theme of Cork attackers convalescing successfully was further heightened by Daniel Goulding coming off the bench, following a nine-month inter-county layoff with an ankle injury, to kick the last point.

“Colm’s a great fella to play with as he can turn left and right in attack,” reflected Paul Kerrigan. “He’s a great option and it’s fantastic to have him back. He’ll be fighting it out with Daniel, two left-leggers, and it was great to see him back as well. That’s good for us.”

Kerrigan’s own contribution was instrumental in shaping this victory as well. His pace and the power of midfielder Pearse O’Neill succeeded in punching holes frequently in the Down rearguard. The pair posted three points from play apiece and ensured Cork had an array of reliable scoring sources.

Cork did not boss the game from start to finish. Both teams were shorn of stars through injury — Cork captain Graham Canty and Down duo Danny Hughes and Dan Gordon being marquee absentees. Yet Down overcame those setbacks and were right to feel pleased with their first-half efforts. Mark Poland and Brendan Coulter were to the fore in their attacking plays, a sector where full-forward Conor Laverty also played brightly. The Kilcoo man registered three first-half points yet was forced to limp off with an injury before the break.

Cork led 0-9 to 0-7 at the midway juncture but while there was a fine level of marksmanship on display by both teams, the match had not crackled to life. The paltry attendance and Arctic air that swirled around Croke Park generated a timid atmosphere. Down began strongly in the second half and a sparkling point by Aidan Carr in the 41st minute left them only 0-11 to 0-10 adrift.

But in the final half-hour Cork developed ruthlessness in their play, pinning Down back in their half and going about the business of ending this match as a contest. Kerrigan and Patrick Kelly carved open the Down defence for O’Neill to calmly roll a shot to the bottom corner of the net in the 43rd minute and Cork were five points to the good with 15 minutes left.

Down did then breathe new life into the match when Carr slammed home an excellent strike to the net from the penalty spot after Cork substitute Jamie O’Sullivan handled the ball on the ground. But they never built on that score, only adding a single point to their total for the rest of the game.

Noel O’Leary and O’Neill registered a couple of brilliant points for Cork before Down goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh hampered their recovery effort by spilling a high ball nine minutes from time. Cork midfielder Alan O’Connor was rewarded for his gamble of joining the attack as he seized the loose possession and fired to the net. The game petered out from there with Cork minds drifting towards the prospect of renewing acquaintances with Mayo, their championship conquerors from last summer, in the league showpiece.

Scorers for Cork: C O’Neill 1-6 (0-2f), P O’Neill, P Kerrigan 0-3 each, A O’Connor 1-0, N O’Leary, D O’Connor, B O’Driscoll, A Walsh, D Goulding 0-1 each.

Scorers for Down: A Carr 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-1f), C Laverty, B Coulter 0-3 each, A McConville (0-1f), B McArdle, M Poland, C Maginn 0-1 each.

Subs for Cork: J O’Sullivan for Cotter (ht), B O’Driscoll for Walsh (inj) (ht), D O’Sullivan for Cadogan (45), M Collins for Goold (56), D Goulding for O’Connor (64).

Subs for Down: C Maginn for Laverty (33), N Branagan for McCartan (45), A Branagan for D Turley (45), D O’Hare for McConville (55), K Quinn for P Turley (61).

Referee: Michael Duffy (Sligo).