Rebels stick to guns
Cork ended Saturday night’s hurling qualifier seven points to the good, but Offaly’s Shane Dooley had made it a four-point game with a goal from a 69th-minute free.
Not quite as nerve-wracking for home supporters as the closing moments of last year’s qualifier between the same teams, when Offaly’s goal narrowed the gap to one point in the last minute, but uncomfortable if you were in red and white. Uncomfortable that is until Cork rattled off three quick points before the final whistle.
“Credit to Cork, we gave it everything,” said Offaly boss Ollie Baker.
“We tore into them for about 55 minutes, then they just got a cushion of a few points and we found it hard to get back. Shane did fierce well to get that goal but we just weren’t able to get the scores at vital times.”
His Cork counterpart was candid about his side’s display.
“The scoreline flattered us,” said Barry-Murphy.
“We were pretty comfortable when they got that goal, but to win by seven points, we’re certainly flattered by that. It was never a game like that and we’re happy with the win. Glad to get out of it.
“Offaly are better than people realise, their performance against Galway was a one-off. We’re very much in a developmental stage with our panel.”
Barry-Murphy’s youngsters learned more lessons on Saturday night. Offaly created plenty of space in the first half and the Cork manager pointed to Tom Kenny’s experience as being vital in helping his fellow defenders settle.
Offaly were well worth an early lead though — on 10 minutes Cork keeper Anthony Nash saved well from a Bergin flick but Cork were indecisive with the rebound and Egan smashed the ball home.
Patrick Horgan kept Cork in touch with three points from play, and when a Shane Dooley 65 put four between them on 17 minutes Horgan responded, finding the net from close range following good work by Pa Cronin and Paudie O’Sullivan.
The Glen Rovers man kept Cork ahead with three more points (two frees) as the half wound down; Brian Carroll, Derek Morkan and Bergin responded, leaving it 1-12 to 1-10 at the break, which was preceded by controversy. Cork forward Jamie Coughlan and James Rigney of Offaly tangled off the ball and the Corkman was lucky to get away with a yellow card.
The second half echoed the first. Offaly began well and overhauled Cork by the 40th minute, but the Rebels rallied with Cian McCarthy leading the way, they edged away from Offaly without ever making the gap between them emphatic.
Horgan had a penalty saved by Eoin Kelly but McCarthy pointed the resulting 65, and subs Daniel Kearney and Stephen Moylan (two) chipped in with scores to put Cork seven up when Dooley goaled from a 25m free.
Barry-Murphy has positives to reflect upon this morning. Darren Sweetnam battled through a stomach bug and his eventual replacement, Daniel Kearney, put in a fine shift, while another sub, Moylan, hit two fine points.
The on-field tutorial offered by the visitors’ creation of space is another lesson that can’t be replicated for inter-county newcomers on the training ground.
“Offaly withdrew players and some of our backs found it hard to read the game,” said Barry-Murphy “Tom Kenny was a big help and that’s all part of the learning curve.
“We overdid it [hand-passing] at times in the second half. I’m not going to criticise the players, at times it looked to be on but one pass too many at times got us into trouble. But winning by seven points is testament to the players, the way they kept going.”
Scorers for Cork: P Horgan 1-10 (0-7f), C McCarthy 0-5 (3 65s, 1f), C Lehane 0-3, A Nash (2f), S Moylan 0-2 each, P Cronin, L McLoughlin, D Kearney, C Naughton 0-1 each.
Scorers for Offaly: S Dooley 1-6 (1-3fs, 1 65), C Egan 1-0, J Bergin 0-3, D Morkan 0-2, B Murphy, S Ryan, B Carroll, D Molloy, C Mahon 0-1 each.
Subs for Cork: D Kearney for Sweetnam (40), L O’Farrell for Coughlan (43), C Naughton for McLoughlin (53), S Moylan for P O’Sullivan (64), N McCarthy for Cronin (69).
Subs for Offaly: D Franks for Hernon (23), C Parlon for Carroll (48), D Molloy for Murphy (57), D Mooney for Brady (63), T Carroll for Egan (66).
Referee: M Wadding (Waterford).
