Defensive calamity and wave of wides cost Rebels as rampant Rossies pile it on

Cork hit the crossbar twice in the second half as their promotion hopes appear all but over. They were equally punished for their wide count, which reached 13

Sat, 01 Mar, 2025 - 20:49

Stephen Barry, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Allianz Football League Division 2: Cork 0-13 Roscommon 2-21

Roscommon returned to the scene of their 2023 championship elimination and emerged with a thumping 14-point victory over Cork at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

They had second-half goals from an Enda Smith penalty and Ben O’Carroll punishing a defensive calamity to put the Rossies top of Division 2, overnight at least, with their fourth win in five games.

Cork hit the crossbar twice in the second half as their promotion hopes appear all but over. They were equally punished for their wide count, which reached 13 to Roscommon’s three by the finish.

Both sides made one change before the throw-in with Cork’s Ian Maguire replacing Seán Walsh and Ben O’Carroll into the Roscommon attack for Ciaráin Murtagh, who appeared as a half-time sub.

These two have been involved in a series of entertaining bouts but this was a cagey affair dominated by frees and slow build-up play.

Cork capitalised on those fouls to build an early 0-5 to 0-3 lead but then didn’t score for 15 minutes as Roscommon reeled off six in a row.

FIRING IT OFF: Paul Walsh, Cork has a shot on goal saved in the first half of the Allianz National Football League game; Cork vs Roscommon at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh on 1st March 2025 Pic: Larry Cummins

The hosts created a pair of goal chances within two minutes. Seán McDonnell blazed wide, although play was called back for a Mark Cronin free, before Paul Walsh cut through only for Conor Carroll to save.

A Roscommon infraction of the 3v3 rule allowed Cronin to convert a two-point free and Cathail O’Mahony opened their account from play in the 17th minute.

Cork had their own transgressions, twice coughing up 50-metre advancements for not handing the ball back for a free and another for blocking a solo-and-go. Diarmuid Murtagh took two of those back outside the 40-metre arc for successful two-pointers.

The Rossies also played on for a goal chance from a Shane Cunnane advanced mark. Maguire’s diving block denied Robbie Dolan before play was whistled back for Cunnane to kick over.

Cronin responded with the first two-pointer from play before the break to go in four behind; 0-12 to 0-8.

Conor Hand launched a two-pointer as Roscommon moved seven ahead within two minutes of the resumption. Chris Óg Jones and Paul Walsh points gave Cork hope but it was extinguished by Smith’s 49th-minute penalty. That came about when O’Carroll regained possession from sloppy Cork handling and fed Ciarán Lennon who tumbled over Neil Lordan. That made it 1-16 to 0-11 and Hand extended that lead to 10 with his second two-pointer.

Cork countered with Seán Powter breaking through the middle but his dipping shot struck the crossbar and bounced over.

Colm O’Callaghan was pushed forward as Cork gave chase. He had a palmed goal chance saved by Carroll before kicking an advanced mark.

Roscommon added salt to the wound when Rory Maguire passed back towards goalkeeper Patrick Doyle, who isn’t permitted to receive the ball inside his own half under the new rules, and O’Carroll profited to tap into the net.

Brian O’Driscoll hit the crossbar from a flowing move at the other end before Roscommon ended with a long-range Niall Daly point, which was deemed a one-pointer due to a touch from Patrick Doyle as it flew over the bar.

Scorers for Cork: M Cronin (0-8, 1 two-pointer, 1 two-point free, 4 frees); C O’Callaghan (mark), P Walsh, C Óg Jones, C O’Mahony, S Powter (0-1 each).

Scorers for Roscommon: D Murtagh (0-7, 2 two-point frees, 2 frees); B O’Carroll (1-3); C Hand (0-6, 2 two-pointers, 1 45); E Smith (1-0 penalty); S Cunnane (mark), R Dolan, C Murtagh (free), U Harney, N Daly (0-1 each).

CORK: P Doyle; N Lordan, T Walsh, D O’Mahony; S Brady, R Maguire, M Taylor; I Maguire, C O’Callaghan; P Walsh, B O’Driscoll, S McDonnell; M Cronin, C Óg Jones, C O’Mahony.

Subs: S Powter for T Walsh (43), R Deane for O’Mahony (45), S Walsh for McDonnell (57), C Cahalane for P Walsh (59), H O’Connor for Jones (65).

ROSCOMMON: C Carroll; P Frost, N Higgins, J McManus; R Dolan, D Murray, S Cunnane; K Doyle, U Harney; C Lennon, C Hand, E Smith; D Murtagh, C McKeon, B O’Carroll.

Subs: C Murtagh for McKeon (h-t), R Daly for McManus (45), E Nolan for Harney (51), D Ruane for Lennon (61), N Daly for Dolan (65).

Referee: S Lonergan (Tipperary).