Allianz Football League: Cork 0-16 Down 1-8
DOWN manager Paddy Tally felt that a lack of composure from his players was costly as they failed to take advantage of opportunities to eat into Cork’s lead in the second half.
“We can’t play the game for the players,” he said, “they have to do it for themselves.
“What we learned today is that you have to make the right decision at the right time. That’s what’s disappointing, it came down to a lack of composure more than anything else.
“We’ll have to work very hard at it. A lot of it comes down to experience, we’re still blooding a lot of young boys within their first year or two and on a day like today, they just make the wrong calls.
“That’s surprising, because a lot of them have been very good that way, but towards the end we just panicked a bit and that’s what we have to work at. We must do whatever we can to try to address it.”
The first half saw Cork amass an 0-8 to 0-2 lead, with the considerable elements behind them.
“At the start of the match, we were playing into the wind and the rain,” Tally said, “to be honest with you it was very difficult and I think the breeze dropped a bit in the second half.
“If we had started stronger, maybe we could have got more of a foothold. Cork won the toss and took the breeze and that left them in a really good position. It means you can play yourself into the game, you have the wind at your back.”
Nevertheless, the fightback was heartening and Tally hopes that there will be a strong response against Longford.
“They’re doing that and that happened the last day too, these boys keep going and going and going,” he said.
“But you have to back that up with quality as well and what you do in the play. There’s lots of heart and spirit, which is so important, but you have to match that with good football.
“That’s the thing the players will be really disappointed with, that they weren’t more economical.
“It’ll eat them for a few days but we have to get back Tuesday night and get ourselves brushed off and be ready for a massive game in two weeks’ time.
Cork boss Ronan McCarthy was satisfied with his team’s performance.
“We didn't downplay the significance of the game to the players,” he said, “we felt if we could win today, it would really put us in pole position for the remainder of the league.
“A good professional performance from us, controlled performance, particularly in the first-half where Down just put 15 men behind the ball inside the 65. We were good and controlled and patient, we waited for our openings and we were well worth our 0-8 to 0-2 half-time advantage.
“Against any side, that is good going. As I say, we didn't emphasise the importance of the game. We got the result, and I suppose we got it comfortably enough.”
Allianz Football League: Cork 0-16 Down 1-8
DOWN suffered their first loss in Division 3 of the Allianz FL as they fell to table-toppers Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.
Having come into the game on Leeside on the back of a draw with Tipperary and a morale-boosting win over Derry, Paddy Tally’s side were just a point behind their hosts. However, Ronan McCarthy’s side maintained their 100 percent record as they built an 0-8 to 0-2 half-time lead after playing with the wind, allowing them to keep the Mourne Men at arm’s length during the second period.
While a late Cory Quinn goal did give Down some hope, they were unable to erode Cork’s lead any further, despite the hosts finishing with 13 players.
Cork, who had already beaten Offaly and Leitrim, did fall behind after Donal O’Hare kicked the game’s opening point for Down, but it was the only time they trailed. The Rebels, who reached the Supers 8s last year, they finished with 11 different scorers to ensure they remained on their own at the top of the table. Longford are a point back in second while Down join Tipperary – their next opponents – and Derry on three points ahead of a rest week.
After O’Hare’s opener, Cork took control as John O’Rourke, Cathail O’Mahony and John O’Rourke put them in front, though good defending was required from Tadhg Corkery and Kevin Crowley at the other end.
Down played with Kevin McKernan as a sweeper and sought to soak up the Cork pressure but the home team displayed patience on the ball and sought to work openings. On 15 minutes, Ciarán Sheehan might have had a Cork goal after Seán Powter did well to set him up but his attempt from a tight angle was wide. However, Brian Hartnett, Thomas Clancy, Gore and Sheehan all tacked on points to leave Cork six ahead.
It wasn’t until just before the break that Owen McCabe ended 31 scoreless minutes for Down but Cork’s Ruairí Deane had the final point of the half and then captain Ian Maguire made it 0-9 to 0-2 on the resumption.
Down had made changes at half-time, introducing Cory Quinn for McKernan and Liam Kerr in place of Shane Annett, and they did improve. Their best performer Darren O’Hagan had a fine point and the Paul Devlin added another, five minutes in, to leave it 0-9 to 0-5. Unfortunately for the men in black – their alternative jerseys, with Cork in white – it wasn’t the signal for a revival as Cork had four of the next five points, working the ball well against the wind as Liam O’Donovan, Gore, O’Mahony and Corkery all had points.
That made it 0-13 to 0-5 and Cork sub Colm O’Callaghan could have removed any doubts about the outcome when he went for goal after O’Rourke and Seán White set him up but Rory Burns saved well.
Soon after that, Cork lost White to a second yellow card, though Maguire had a point to open up a nine-point lead and, after Cory Quinn pointed for Down, O’Mahony replied.
Down did harness some momentum in the closing stages as points from O’Hare and Darren O’Hagan were followed by a goal from Quinn, who reacted when the ball broke from Barry O’Hagan’s delivery.
Cork didn’t panic though and sub Luke Connolly stroked over a free from a tight angle to ensured they retained a cushion. While Crowley departed injured after all Cork’s subs had been used, they saw the game out to remain on maximum points.
Cork: M Martin; L O’Donovan (0-1), T Clancy (0-1), K Crowley; T Corkery (0-1), S Powter, M Taylor; I Maguire (0-2), B Hartnett (0-1); R Deane (0-1), S White, J O’Rourke (0-1); D Gore (0-3, 0-2 frees), C Sheehan (0-1 free), C O’Mahony (0-3, 0-2 frees).
Subs: C O’Callaghan for Sheehan (50), L Connolly (0-1 free) for Deane (52), P Kerrigan for Gore (55), K O’Hanlon for O’Rourke (58), C Kiely for Powter (62).
Red cards: S White (53)
Black cards: None
Yellow cards: S White (28)
Down: R Burns; G Collins, P Murdock, R McAleenan; S Annett, D O’Hagan (0-2), J Flynn; C Poland, O McCabe (0-2); J Guinness, P Devlin (0-1), D Guinness; K McKernan, D O’Hare (0-2, 0-1 free), C Quinn (1-1).
Black cards: None
Yellow cards: K McKernan (22), J Johnston (38)
Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin).
