Cork seal deserved win over Offaly

Cork 1-20 Offaly 1-15, Pairc Ui Chaoimh

Cork finished strongly to seal a deserved five-point win over Offaly in their Allianz NHL Division 1 opener at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

The Rebels scored four of the last six points to edge home during a second half in which their greater physicality and defensive strength were key components.

The teams were tied on four occasions during this contest, with no more than three points between them in the opening 60 minutes.

Tom Kenny blasted to the Offaly net in the opening minute, but newly-appointed captain Shane Dooley and goal scorer Colin Egan got Offaly firing.

The Faithfuls were only 1-12 to 1-11 behind at half-time. However, they could only add four more points in the second period as scores from Pat Horgan, Jerry and Ben O'Connor and Pa Cronin steered Cork clear.

In front of a 1,405-strong crowd, Cork put the Offaly defence under huge pressure in the opening stages, with half-forward Tom Kenny helping to set the early pace.

A high ball was dropped into the Cork full-forward line and Kenny gathered it before sending a dipping shot past goalkeeper James Dempsey from 21 metres out.

Kenny's goal came after 45 seconds, but the Offaly defence sharpened up as the half wore on and Dempsey redeeming himself with some spectacular saves.

Midfielder Shane Kelly, in only his second league appearance, delivered Offaly's first point in the third minute. Joe Dooley's side added a brace of points from Shane Dooley to square things up by the sixth minute.

Both sides had their periods of dominance in a first half that was closely fought. Cork responded well with a trio of scores, including two from Pat Horgan, to push 1-03 to 0-03 ahead in the 11th minute.

Offaly needed a score quickly and Brian Carroll offered the perfect reply. The ball was swept upfield from deep in the full-back line, and the Coolderry clubman was on hand to calmly slot over.

Pa Cronin pegged a point back for the Rebels with his second score, before the travelling Offaly support were given plenty to shout about.

Firstly, Colin Egan broke through the Cork rearguard for an equalising goal in the 14th minute, and then Carroll followed up with an inspirational point to see Offaly take a 1-05 to 1-04 lead.

A Ben O'Connor point from a sideline cut levelled the tie once more. That was quickly followed by a Carroll score and then Cork hit a purple patch, firing over three points in quick succession - including a brace from Cathal Naughton.

Dooley and Carroll got Offaly back level at 1-08 apiece in the 26th minute. Cork edged proceedings in the lead-up to half-time, hitting three unaswered points, and they might have had a second goal. Dempsey produced a superb save to deny Ben O'Connor.

Offaly reduced the arrears to the minimum though, clipping over three late points from Stephen Wynne, Dooley and Joe Bergin.

Scores were at a premium in the second half, particularly for Offaly. The Cork defence tightened up and points at the other end from Horgan, the O'Connor twins and Cronin built a 1-17 to 1-13 lead by the hour mark.

Cork's second half substitutes were pretty effective with Niall McCarthy chipping in with a score, and Cian McCarthy was also heavily involved in the late play.

Offaly kept battling until the end. Bergin claimed a point in the third minute of injury-time, but Cork were too far ahead by that stage and were good value for their victory.

Scorers: Cork: P Horgan 0-05 (0-02f), B O’Connor 0-04 (0-02f, 0-01 sl), T Kenny 1-00, P Cronin, P O’Sullivan 0-03 each, C Naughton 0-02, J O’Connor, B Murphy, N McCarthy 0-01 each

Offaly: S Dooley 0-06 (0-04f), B Carroll 0-04, C Egan 1-00, J Bergin 0-02, S Kelly, S Wynne, C Parlon 0-01 each

CORK: A Nash; S McDonnell, E Cadogan, S Murphy; J Gardiner, M Ellis, B Murphy; J O'Connor, W Egan; T Kenny, P Cronin, C Naughton; B O'Connor, P O'Sullivan, P Horgan.

Subs used: K Murphy for Horgan, N McCarthy for Naughton (both 53 mins), L McLoughlin for Egan (58), C McCarthy for Cronin (63).

OFFALY: J Dempsey; B Mulrooney, J Rigney, S Egan; D Kenny, R Hanniffy, D Morkam; C Mahon, S Kelly; B Carroll, C Egan, S Wynne; C Parlon, J Bergin, S Dooley.

Subs used: D Hayden for Rigney (41 mins), K Connolly for Kelly (49), K Brady for Wynne (63).

Referee: Michael Wadding (Waterford)