Allianz Football League Division 1 – Cork 2-18 Derry 3-14

Cork defeated Derry by 2-18 to 3-14 in round 4 of the AFL Division 1 on Sunday March 9th at Pairc Uí Rinn, Cork.

Cork survive second-half fightback from Derry to take spoils in Division 1 clash

Cork 2-18 Derry 3-14

Report from thescore.ie

CORK SURVIVED A massive scare from Derry to maintain their 100% record at the top of Division 1 of the Allianz Football League at Páirc Uí Rinn today. Having trailed by 11 points shortly before half-time, the Oak Leaf County gave themselves a boost through goals from Enda Lynn and Emmett McGuckin just before half-time. In the second half they came to within a point of Cork on four separate occasions, Lynn’s second goal crucial for them.

The home side just about held off their challenge, however, with points from second-half substitute Colm O’Neill ensuring that they had some breathing space and a semi-final spot is now surely theirs.

Given the way they started the game, Cork would have been expected to have things wrapped up by half-time. John O’Rourke’s 13th minute goal – flicking in Paul Kerrigan’s delivery – made it 1-5 to no score and then when Tomás Clancy fired home 10 minutes later they led by ten points – 2-7 to 0-3.

Though midfielder Fergal Doherty was doing well, Derry were struggling, but from nowhere they got back in contention. Lynn got the first goal when the ball rebounded in off him after Ken O’Halloran saved, and then McGuckin won a good ball in and gave the keeper no chance.

Trailing by 2-9 to 2-4 at half-time, Derry continued to eat into the lead and when Lynn found the net again it was 2-15 to 3-10. Try as they might, though, they could not fully draw Cork back in.

Scorers for Cork: John O’Rourke 1-2, Brian Hurley, Paul Kerrigan, Daniel Goulding (0-3f), Colm O’Neill (0-2f) 0-3 each, Tomás Clancy 1-0, Mark Collins 0-2, Fintan Goold, Barry O’Driscoll 0-1 each.

Scorers for Derry: Enda Lynn 2-1, Mark Lynch 0-5 (0-5f), Emmett McGuckin 1-0, Ciarán McFaul, Fergal Doherty 0-2 each, Mark Craig, Chrissy McKaigue, Seán Leo McGoldrick, Benny Heron (0-1 ’45) 0-1 each.

CORK: Ken O’Halloran; Alan Cronin, Michael Shields, Tomás Clancy; James Loughrey, John McLoughlin, Kevin O’Driscoll; Fintan Goold, Andrew O’Sullivan; Mark Collins, Paul Kerrigan, John O’Rourke; Daniel Goulding, Brian Hurley, John Hayes.

Subs: Donncha O’Connor for O’Rourke (41, bc), Colm O’Driscoll for Goulding, Colm O’Neill for Hayes (both 46), Barry O’Driscoll for Kerrigan (47, inj), Micheál Ó Laoire for O’Sullivan (54-55, blood), Patrick Kelly for McLoughlin (69), Ó Laoire for Hurley (70).

DERRY: Thomas Mallon; Dermot McBride, Chrissy McKaigue, Mark Craig; Seán Leo McGoldrick, Aidan McAlynn, Kevin Johnston; Fergal Doherty, Patsy Bradley; Ciarán McFaul, Mark Lynch, Enda Lynn; James Kielt, Emmett McGuckin, Cailean O’Boyle.

Subs: Oisín Duffy for Craig (26), Conor McAtamney for McGoldrick (30-33, blood), McAtamney for McGoldrick (half-time), Benny Heron for Kielt (42), Declan Mullan for McGuckin (64), Aaron Kerrigan for O’Boyle (70).

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)