CORK 0-14

DERRY 1-31

MATTHEW HURLEY REPORTS

A SPEEDBUMP in the road for the Cork footballers? Let’s hope so, but this 20-point defeat to Derry in Celtic Park on Sunday has dented the Rebels’ promotion push.

After four Division 2 victories in succession, Cork came unstuck in dramatic fashion away to a high-flying Derry side that now has assumed pole position in the race for promotion.

All is not lost for Cork – far from it – but John Cleary’s side has work to do in the games ahead: home to Kildare, away to Tyrone.

‘We were beaten off the field. We needed a seven or eight point lead at half time. Instead, we were down four,’ Rebels’ boss John Cleary said. Cork had a sizeable wind advantage in the first half but, thanks to a Lachlan Murray goal on the hooter, trailed 1-10 to 0-9 at the break.

‘I thought we were very flat. We just didn’t come out of the blocks. Credit to Derry, they were excellent on the day. They were up for it and punished us. No complaints. We were beaten by a better team. Disappointed with our own performance. It’s back to the drawing board.’

Cork started well, building an 0-8 to 0-5 lead after 20 minutes, but then Derry seized control.

A brace of Steven Sherlock two-pointers suggested better was to come from Cork, however Derry were much more economical with their shots against the breeze.

Conor Glass and Conor Doherty closed the gap before Paul Walsh gave Cork a two-point lead.

The Ulster county’s first purple patch came, reeling off 1-3 before the break. Murray (2) and Niall Loughlin edged the home side in front for the first time in the contest, 0-10 to 0-9.

With 45 seconds left on the opening half clock, Cork had the opportunity to clear from a free out. Micheál Aodh Martin kicked it straight back to Derry before Glass played a pin-point ball into Murray who slammed it home. A sucker-punch that Cork didn’t need.

‘We needed to get that goal and we didn’t get it. That made it a huge uphill struggle in the second half.  At times we tried to get in, but down the other end we got opened at the back. Derry’s inter-play and scoring was outstanding. We had no answer to it,’ Cleary explained.

Substitute Ruairí Deane brought the gap back to three points but things were about to get a lot worse for the Rebels as Derry hit 0-10 without reply. A devastating nine-minute spell included scores from Shane McGuigan, Paul Cassidy, Niall Toner and Ethan Doherty while Loughlin converted a two-pointer. Six points came directly from Cork’s kick-outs during that time.

The home side bossed midfield and put the game to bed, leading by 1-20 to 0-10 after 45 minutes. Cork tried desperately to claw back the margin but ended up leaving more gaps for Derry to exploit.

‘Sometimes when you go after games, that’s going to happen. We tried to go forward but moves broke down. They bossed the midfield area from kick-outs big time. That was their platform,’ Cleary said.

This was a demoralising loss but the key for Cork is to regroup for the last two games to keep their promotion bid alive.

Scorers

Cork: Steven Sherlock 0-6 (2 2pt, 1 45); Colm O’Callaghan, Darragh Cashman 0-2 each; Seán Walsh, Dara Sheedy, Paul Walsh, Ruairí Deane 0-1 each.

Derry: Shane McGuigan 0-9 (2f, 1 2pt); Lachlan Murray 1-4; Paul Cassidy, Niall Loughlin (1 2pt) 0-4 each; Niall Toner, Ethan Doherty 0-2 each; Shea McGuckin (45), Padraig McGrogan, Conor Doherty, Conor Glass, Seán Kearney, Dan Higgins 0-1 each.

Cork: Micheál Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers); Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty), Daniel O’Mahony (captain, Knocknagree), Seán Meehan (Kiskeam); Matty Taylor (Mallow), Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), Luke Fahy (Ballincollig); Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), Seán Walsh (Mitchelstown); Paul Walsh (Kanturk), Dara Sheedy (Bantry Blues), Seán McDonnell (Mallow); Chris Óg Jones (Uibh Laoire), Conor Corbett (Clyda Rovers), Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues) for Paul Walsh (ht); David Buckley (Newcestown) for S McDonnell, Cathail O’Mahony (Mitchelstown) for C Corbett (both 46); Darragh Cashman (Millstreet) for M Taylor (52); Conor Cahalane (Castlehaven) for D Sheedy (64).

Derry: Shea McGuckin; Diarmuid Baker, Ruaraí Forbes, Shea Downey; Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers; Ethan Doherty, Niall Toner, Paul Cassidy; Niall Loughlin, Shane McGuigan, Lachlan Murray.

Subs: Dan Higgins for B Rogers (46); Seán Young for L Murray (53); Seán Kearney for N Toner (56); Marty Bradley for D Baker (60); Connall Higgins for G McKinless (62).

Referee: Séamus Mulhare (Laois).