Cork 0-22

Tyrone 0-19

MATTHEW HURLEY REPORTS

‘IT’S been a while coming,’ admitted Cork manager John Cleary after the Rebels sealed promotion back to Division 1.

Next season will mark Cork’s first return to the top tier of the national league since 2016.

Away to Tyrone on Sunday, knowing a result would guarantee promotion, it was fitting that the clinching score came from one of the stalwarts who lined out in Division 1 a decade ago. Take a bow, Brian Hurley.

The Castlehaven forward, who made a huge impact off the bench, also kicked one of the most bizarre two-pointers seen this season to stretch the lead to 0-21 to 0-16 with four minutes remaining. An effort that looked to be dropping short took a wicked bounce and sailed over the bar – a moment that summed up Cork’s day.

‘There were times when we looked like we weren’t going to push it home when we should have. We played excellently in the first half, bar the last ten minutes when they took over around the middle. In the second half, we didn’t start that well but we fought hard. We could have won more comfortably in the end. We got a bit of a fluke with the one that hopped over the bar,’ Cleary explained.

‘There was a lot on the line for us. Maybe lads were a bit nervous and we didn’t push it home when we should have, but we’re absolutely thrilled because there have been days that have gone against us.’

Bantry Blues’ Dara Sheedy, in his first senior inter-county campaign, is enjoying a breakout season that just got even better with this promotion.

‘It’s a savage feeling. That was our aim at the start of the year. We’re in Division 1 now and we’re over the moon,’ he said.

‘It was an unbelievable performance. The attitude was right from the warm-up. We knew if we won or drew, we were getting promoted. That’s all we wanted from the start of the year. It’s what we set out to do and we went out and did it.’

Cork’s intent was clear from the throw-in. They raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead inside 11 minutes as Colm O’Callaghan, Mark Cronin, Steven Sherlock and Luke Fahy all chipped in.

That advantage could have stretched further when Seán McDonnell’s goal-bound effort was saved by Oisín O’Kane.

However, McDonnell, Ian Maguire, Chris Óg Jones and Tommy Walsh ensured Cork led 0-9 to 0-8 at the break, with the wind to come in the second half.

‘We knew they weren’t going to take a step back. We had to take the game to them and we started very well. Our attack was brilliant. We worked the good shots. Maybe I should have fisted that goal chance over the bar,’ McDonnell said.

‘They came back into it, but we were happy to go in 0-9 to 0-8 up. We said if we lost the second half by the same margin and got a draw, we’d be promoted. We wanted to come up and put in a performance and we did that.’

Tyrone edged ahead for the first time on 38 minutes through Mattie Donnelly, but Cork never panicked.

It remained score for score until a crucial two-pointer from Sherlock pushed the Leesiders 0-16 to 0-14 in front on 52 minutes, and they managed that advantage smartly down the stretch to secure a famous win.

OUR STAR: Colm O’Callaghan gets the nod for his 0-3 from play and commanding display around the middle.

Scorers

Cork: Steven Sherlock 0-5 (2f, 1 2pt); Brian Hurley 0-4 (1 2pt); Colm O’Callaghan 0-3; Mark Cronin (1f), Seán McDonnell, Chris Óg Jones 0-2 each; Luke Fahy, Ian Maguire, Tommy Walsh, Dara Sheedy 0-1 each.

Tyrone: Mattie Donnelly 0-6; Ethan Jordan 0-5 (2f, 1 2pt); Darragh Canavan 0-4 (1f); Darren McCurry 0-2; Ciarán Daly, Conn Kilpatrick 0-1 each.

Cork: Patrick Doyle; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O’Mahony, Seán Meehan; Brian O’Driscoll, Tommy Walsh, Luke Fahy; Colm O’Callaghan, Ian Maguire (captain); Paul Walsh, Mark Cronin, Seán McDonnell; Chris Óg Jones, Dara Sheedy, Steven Sherlock.

Subs: Brian Hurley for D Sheedy (53); Ruairí Deane for P Walsh (59); Rory Maguire for L Fahy (61); Seán Walsh for S McDonnell (66); David Buckley for I Maguire (69).

Tyrone: Oisín O’Kane; Ben Cullen, Peter Teague, Cormac Quinn; Joey Clarke, Niall Devlin, Ben McDonnell; Brian Kennedy (captain), Conn Kilpatrick; Seanie O’Donnell, Ronan Cassidy, Darragh Canavan; Darren McCurry, Mattie Donnelly, Ethan Jordan.

Subs: Eoin McElholm for E Jordan (ht); Frank Burns for B McDonnell (48); Ciarán Daly for R Cassidy (53); Michael McKernan for B Cullen (55); Ciarán Bogue for D McCurry (66).

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).