Cork looking up after impressive bounce-back victory over Kildare

If the Rebels take even a point off Tyrone at Healy Park next weekend, they are promoted.

Sat, 14 Mar, 2026 - 18:45

Eoghan Cormican

Cork 1-31 (1-8-15) Kildare 2-19 (2-4-11)

A return of key personnel. A return to winning ways. But most important of all for Cork, a return to the promotion places.

The Derry defeat was announced over the Páirc Uí Rinn tannoy before throw-in. Cork seized the opportunity handed to them. Propelled by both the breeze and news of Louth doing them a sizable favour, they reclaimed control of their League fate.

From the concession of 1-31 in Celtic Park to posting 1-31 here, Cork displayed no hangover - physical, psychological, or otherwise - from the disastrous trip north a fortnight ago.

The arithmetic is simple. If Cork take even a point off Tyrone at Healy Park next weekend, they are promoted.

The first half was an exhibition of two-point kicking. Now, Kildare’s policing of the arc was truly pathetic, as was their patrolling of red runners coming off the shoulder, but the target still has to be nailed each time.

By the 17th minute, Cork had raised five orange flags. By half-time, their two-point count was at eight. With Seán McDonnell short and Chris Óg Jones wide during the same play approaching the half hour, Cork’s two-point conversion rate was a highly impressive eight from 10.

The spread was equally impressive, as was the fact that all bar one came from play. Steven Sherlock supplied their first 65 seconds in and also supplied their last of the half on 34 minutes. Their interval lead stood at 16 points. 1-22 to 1-6.

Kildare lost only two of their opening eight restarts. Both were punished with orange. The second of those was kicked by half-back Luke Fahy. Chris Óg Jones, Dara Sheedy, and Mark Cronin were the remaining Cork players to stretch the home advantage from distance.

Kildare were asleep at the wheel - in every respect. One turnover just inside the Cork half saw them terribly exposed. Cronin, Jones, and Sheedy were free inside at the far end. The kick from the returning Brian O’Driscoll was too long and spilled wide.

The Cork goal, on 27 minutes, was yet another moment of the Lilywhites switching off. A handpass coming out of defence fell loose. Ian Maguire collected the turnover and offloaded to O’Driscoll. From there, the ball went to Cronin before being lofted across to Jones for the finish. The latter was superb, finishing with 1-9 from play.

The Kildare major arrived two minutes earlier. A Darragh Kirwan point attempt short fell into Brendan Gibbons’ grasp. He swivelled and struck.

Kildare kicked five point attempts short in the opening half. Brian McLoughlin also had a pair of wides, while Colm Moran had green and white flag opportunities spoiled and stopped.

Two points, from Moran and Darragh Kirwan, was all they managed in the opening 22 minutes, by which juncture they trailed 0-15 to 0-2.

Cork, even when turning to face the breeze, continued to hold momentum. Four of the first five scores after half-time were theirs. Sherlock and Jones swelled their respective tallies. Paul Walsh wrote his name onto the scoresheet. Ian Maguire and Colm O’Callaghan maintained their tormenting of Cian Burke’s restart.

At 1-26 to 1-7 in front, a degree of sloppiness entered Cork’s play.

Jack Robinson rolled in Kildare’s second goal. How they didn’t find a third green flag was incredible.

Micheál Aodh Martin was introduced as a result of Patrick Doyle being black-carded for his takedown of Brian McLoughlin. Martin’s first action was to stop Alex Beirne’s penalty. He’d subsequently deny Jack Robinson, twice, and McLoughlin. There were two further openings that Colm O’Callaghan, Luke Fahy, and the crossbar kept out.

A fourth successive defeat for Kildare. Relegation is getting very real for them. Promotion is once again a live reality for Cork.

Scorers for Cork: C Óg Jones (1-9, 2tp); S Sherlock (0-10, 2tps, tp free, 0-1 ‘45); M Cronin (0-4, tp); L Fahy (tp), D Sheedy (tp, 0-3 each); T Walsh, P Walsh (0-1 each).

Scorers for Kildare: J Robinson (1-3, tp, 0-1 free); A Beirne (tp, 0-1 free), D Kirwan (0-3 each); B Gibbons (1-0); B Loakman (tp), B McCormack (tp), C Dalton C Moran (0-2 each); B McLoughlin (free), C Bolton (0-1 each).

CORK: P Doyle; M Shanley, D O’Mahony, S Brady; B O’Driscoll, T Walsh, L Fahy; C O’Callaghan, I Maguire; P Walsh, D Sheedy, S McDonnell; M Cronin, C Óg Jones, S Sherlock.

SUBS: R Deane for McDonnell, S Walsh for P Walsh (52); M Taylor for T Walsh (56); R Maguire for P Doyle (66); MA Martin for Sheedy (58); D Cashman for Taylor (60, inj).

KILDARE: C Burke; H O’Neill, B Byrne, R Burke; L Kelly, P Spillane, E Lawlor; C Bolton, D Kirwan; S Doran, K Feely, C Dalton; C Moran, B McLoughlin, B Loakman.

SUBS: B Gibbons for Feely (10 mins, inj); A Beirne for Doran, B McCormack for Kelly (both HT); J Robinson for Moran (46); E Cully for Loakman (64).

REFEREE: L Devenney (Mayo).