In-form Cork keep winning run going with routine victory over Offaly

John Cleary's side were comfortable on the road against the Faithful.

Mark Cronin of Cork celebrates after scoring his side's third goal at Glenisk O'Connor Park in Tullamore. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

OFFALY 0-19 (0-2-15) CORK 3-15 (3-0-15) 

A veritable walk in Glenisk O’Connor Park for Cork who maintained their 100% record in Division 2 with ease.

Struggling Offaly caused Cork little discomfort and were beaten as early as half-time when they trailed 0-6 to 2-9 having enjoyed the wind advantage.

A brace of Colm O’Callaghan first-half goals followed by another by Mark Cronin less than four minutes after the interval set Cork up nicely for the visit of fellow high-flying Meath in Páirc Uí Rinn next Sunday.

Cork had made four late changes to their team. Brian Hurley was one of the absentees along with Tommy Walsh, Brian O’Driscoll and Seán Walsh. The starting line-up was hardly weakened by the introduction of Seán Meehan, Rory Maguire, Ian Maguire and Dara Sheedy.

Captain Ian Maguire lost the toss and Offaly enjoyed the strong breeze for the first half but it was one of a small number of defeats Cork suffered on the day. They lorded possession in the first half, helped in no small part by Offaly’s reluctance to put any pressure on them.

Chris Óg Jones scored a point either side of a Cormac Egan two-pointer. Offaly would chance the long-ranger several more times before the break but Keith O’Neill’s effort was the only other one that landed between the sticks.

Daire McDaid had a meek penalty claim for Offaly in the eighth minute. Referee Seán Lonergan waved it away and up the field Cork went and their attack concluded with a Sheedy point.

Their first goal arrived in the 10th minute. The marauding O’Callaghan passed to Jones whose looping hand-pass to his on-running team-mate was perfect as was the Éire Óg’s finish to send Cork into a 1-3 to 0-2 lead.

It was the second in a run of five Cork scores without reply. Seán McDonnell and Cronin sent over a point within four minutes of each other and Steven Sherlock then punished a four-back infringement by Offaly.

O’Neill’s two-pointer in the 21st minute offered sweet but oh so brief relief for Offaly as Sherlock doubled his contribution when he punished a foul on the buzzing Jones.

McDonnell spanked the crossbar with a rifling strike in the 26th minute but there was a dividend for Cork soon after when Cronin fisted over a point.

A brace of Harry Plunkett points, the second of them for an overcarry by Maurice Shanley, brought Offaly within five points, but Cork’s end of the half was rousing.

Sherlock slotted over his first point from play in the 31st minute and O’Callaghan slipped a second goal three minutes later. Jones was again the provider with a hand-pass and Seán Meehan was also involved as Offaly’s cover was again blown wide open.

A third Cork goal came in the 39th minute. Ian Maguire made a great run to link the move involving Jones and Meehan and Cronin calmly dispatched the ball beyond Conor Melia.

Twelve points separated the sides before Offaly reeled off three without reply and then Rory Maguire was black carded for a cynical pulldown on Cormac Egan in the 46th minute.

Cork initially rode their 10-minute period well, going two points ahead. However, Offaly then reeled off three prior to Rory Maguire’s return to the field.

A fourth without reply was fisted over by O’Neill and the margin was reduced to seven. An O’Callaghan point arrested Offaly’s momentum but their intensity levels had clearly dropped and the hosts were eating into their deficit.

Plunkett’s collection of points rose to eight and O’Neill’s to four as Offaly came within six but they were still tripping over themselves and Sherlock and substitute Seán Walsh consolidated Cork’s lead.

Other than losing the second half, 1-6 to 0-13, and perhaps registering no two-pointer (they didn’t attempt one), the one concern for Cork on the day was goalkeeper Patrick Doyle having to retire early with a leg injury.

Scorers for Offaly: H. Plunkett (0-8, 4 frees); H. O’Neill (0-5, 1 tp); C. Egan (0-3, 1tp); D. McDaid, N. Furlong, J. Hayes (0-1 each).

Scorers for Cork: C. O’Callaghan (2-1); M. Cronin (1-4, 0-1 free); S. Sherlock (0-5, 2 frees); C. Jones (0-2); D. Sheedy, S. McDonnell, S. Walsh (0-1 each).

OFFALY: C. Melia; S. O’Toole-Greene, D. Dempsey, D. McDaid; R. Egan, D. Egan, C. Egan; J. McEvoy, A. Leavy; K. O’Neill, J. Hayes, M. Dalton; H. Plunkett, C. Murphy, E. Sawyer.

Subs for Offaly: N. Furlong for E. Sawyer (h-t); D. Flynn for C. Murphy (46); E. Dunne for M. Dalton (52); D. Molloy for A. Leavy (65).

CORK: P. Doyle; M. Shanley, D. O’Mahony, S. Meehan; M. Taylor, R. Maguire, L. Fahy; C. O’Callaghan, I. Maguire (c); P. Walsh, D. Sheedy, S. McDonnell; M. Cronin, C. Jones, S. Sherlock.

Subs for Cork: R. Deane for P. Walsh (46); S. Walsh for I. Maguire (51); C. O’Mahony for C. Jones (52); M.A. Martin for P. Doyle (inj 59); C. Cahalane for S. McDonnell (66).

Black card: R. Maguire (46).

Referee: S. Lonergan (Tipperary).

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