Cork footballers overcome CIT

Cork 1-15 CIT 2-8

Munster champions Cork got 2009 off to a winning start in the McGrath Cup today when they beat CIT by four points at Páirc Uí Rinn.

When CIT’s Colm O’Neill scored a penalty to reduce the lead to 1-12 to 2-8 for Cork in the 55th minute, a close finish looked in prospect, with extra time a possibility, but Cork responded positively and three points, two from Fintan Goold and one from Seamus Hayes, ensured that they ran out winners.

Cork never trailed in the game and were on their way when Conor McManus linked well with Conor McCarthy to strike for a goal with the game’s first score in the second minute.

They were 1-2 to no score ahead by the time CIT got off the mark in the 10th minute, midfielder Paul O’Flynn scoring a fine goal, and from there it was close for the rest of the half, Cork leading by 1-6 to 1-5 at the break.

That lead had increased to four points by the 40th minute of the game as Cork looked set to pull away, and they were unlucky not to get a second goal when McManus hit the post.

However, the lead was still four when Roy Leahy was fouled in the box by Kevin Harrington with five minutes left.

Referee Aidan Mangan, who showed four yellow cards in the game, two for each side, had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and when O’Neill found the net a close finish looked in prospect, but credit Cork for the resolve the showed in response.

They now meet Clare in the quarter-final next Sunday.

Scorers for Cork: C McManus 1-1, F Goold 0-4, K O’Sullivan 0-3, C McCarthy, S Hayes 0-2, A O’Connor, R Brosnan, P Kelly 0-1.

CIT: C O’Neill 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), P O’Flynn 1-0, S O’Hare, P Kerrigan (0-1f) 0-2.

CORK: P O’Shea; B Crowley, N O’Donovan, K Harrington; D Murphy, E Burke, R O’Sullivan; A O’Connor, A O’Sullivan; C McCarthy, F Goold, P Kelly; G McCarthy, C McManus, K O’Sullivan.

Subs: R Brosnan for Burke (yellow card, 30), S Hayes for G McCarthy (half-time), S O’Sullivan for O’Connor (yellow card, 42), D Relihan for McManus, C O’Leary for R O’Sullivan (both 60).

CIT: B Walsh; R O’Dwyer, R Carey, S O’Donoghue; N Canty, A Fenton, C O’Driscoll; S O’Hare, P O’Flynn; G Sayers, P Kerrigan, J Fitzpatrick; C O’Neill, C Crowley, S McCarthy.

Subs: N Galvin for Canty (half-time), R Leahy for Crowley (37), D Lynch for Fenton (39), C Brosnan for O’Driscoll (yellow card, 53), J Dennis for O’Donoghue (yellow card, 60).

Referee: A Mangan (Kerry).