CORK 0-24

CAVAN 2-17

MATTHEW HURLEY REPORTS

CORK’s own version of the great escape saw the Rebels hit eight unanswered points to overturn a seven-point deficit and seal a home win in their opening game of the new Division 2 league campaign.

You could sense the relief around Páirc Ui Chaoimh at the final whistle, as Cork avoided defeat, but this was too close for comfort.

When Cavan forward Paddy Lynch made it 2-17 to 0-16 in favour of the Ulster side on 58 minutes, after the Rebels were punished for a three-up breach, the outlook looked bleak for John Cleary’s team.

The introduction of Steven Sherlock proved a masterstroke. It sparked a comeback that was completed by his clutch two-pointer free on 69 minutes.

‘If there was any player we wanted on the ball, it was Steven. Particularly with the season he had and the form he is in – he was the man we wanted on that kick. Fair dues to him, it was a pressure kick. The game was on the line and he slotted it over very well,’ a relieved Cleary admitted.

‘Very happy with the two points. With ten minutes to go, seven points down, it didn’t look like it was going to be our day. We played in fits and starts. We were getting good scores but I was just afraid we were going to start to panic a small bit. A couple of wayward shots there but in fairness the lads settled down.

Sherlock contributed another two-pointer from play while Seán McDonnell, Chris Óg Jones and Mark Cronin also scored, with Bantry Blues’ super-sub Dara Sheedy playing an important role too.

‘The couple of two-pointers were crucial and I thought we finished very well. When the game was there for the taking, we drove at it and got over the line,’ Cleary emphasised.

‘I think back to Down last year, we were in more or less the same position and we came out of it with a loss but today, we’ll take the victory.’

The Rebels had a rocky start, as Oisín Brady, Dara McVeety and Gerard Smith all pointed inside three minutes for Cavan.

Colm O’Callaghan, Ruairí Deane and Cronin hit three with reply to level and while McVeety hit back for the Ulster side, Cork took the lead for the first time after Seán McDonnell nailed a two-pointer on 14 minutes, 0-5 to 0-4.

However, Cavan retook the lead after Conor Brady cut through the Cork defence before hand passing across the square to find McVeety who goaled. It was 1-4 to 0-6 on 17 minutes.

Cork retook the lead as Paul Walsh and Cronin scored but Tiarnan Madden replied for Cavan. It was 0-10 to 1-7 leading up to the break but Brian Hurley hit three points for Cork, including a two-pointer right on the hooter, to make it 0-13 to 1-8 at half time.

Luke Fahy increased the home side’s lead from the second-half throw-in but Cavan had their purple patch as they outscored Cork 1-9 to 0-2 between the 36th and 58th minutes. Despite that spell though, it was Cork who turned it around to gain the two league points on offer.

OUR STAR: Special mention to Bantry’s Dara Sheedy who added a spark after coming on but Seán McDonnell was the man trying to make things happen for Cork.

Scorers

Cork: Mark Cronin 0-7 (3f, 1m); Steven Sherlock 0-4 (1 2pt, 1 2ptf); Seán McDonnell (1 2pt), Brian Hurley (1 2pt) 0-3 each; Paul Walsh, Luke Fahy 0-2 each; Colm O’Callaghan, Ruairí Deane, Chris Óg Jones 0-1 each.

Cavan: Dara McVeety 1-4; Ciarán Brady (Arva) 1-1; Gearóid McKiernan (1 2ptf), Paddy Lynch (1f, 1 2ptf) 0-3 each; Oisín Brady 0-2; Gerard Smith, Tiarnan Madden, Peter Corrigan, Niall Carolan 0-1 each.

Cork: Patrick Doyle (Knocknagree); Seán Brady (Ballygarvan), Daniel O’Mahony (captain, Knocknagree), Tommy Walsh (Kanturk); Brian O’Driscoll (Carrigaline), Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), Luke Fahy (Ballincollig); Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), Seán Walsh (Mitchelstown); Paul Walsh (Kanturk), Seán McDonnell (Mallow), Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues); Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven), Chris Óg Jones (Uibh Laoire).

Subs: Matty Taylor (Mallow) for R Maguire (46); Dara Sheedy (Bantry Blues) for R Deane, Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s) for S Walsh (both 49); Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s) for B Hurley (52); Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty) for S Brady (59).

Cavan: Liam Brady; Jason McLoughlin, Niall Carolan, Paddy Meade; Ciarán Brady (Arva, captain), Dara McVeety, Gerard Smith; Ciarán Brady (Corofin), Conor Brady; Ryan Donohue, Cormac Brady, Tiarnan Madden; Oisín Brady, Gearóid McKiernan, Peter Corrigan.

Subs: Paddy Lynch for P Corrigan (43); Ryan Brady for Ciarán Brady (Corofin) (49); Darragh Lovett for Ciarán Brady (Arva) (59); Tristan Noack Hoffman for N Carolan (65); Eoin Clarke for R Donohoe (69).

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry).