All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final – Cork 0-16 Down 0-15

Cork defeated Down by 0-16 to 0-15 in the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final on Sunday in Croke Park.

Rebels come good in the end

By IAN O’RIORDAN at Croke Park for the Irish Times newspaper

Cork 0-16 Down 0-15: Cork have put an end to their unenviable record of losing All-Ireland football finals with the most dramatic and narrowest of victories in Croke Park. The one-point margin reflected what was a tense and tight battle throughout, but in the end Cork proved deserving winners to inflict a painful defeat on Down, who had set the pace for long periods. So, it wasn’t to be six titles from six finals for Down, and yet few people could deny Cork their moment – particularly after the brave and ultimately determined way they went about their victory. Cork’s euphoric reaction at the final whistle reflected what it meant to win this title, as did the expression of team captain Graham Canty on lifting the Sam Maguire. Canty didn’t start due to a hamstring injury, but his second half introduction was one the things that helped swing the momentum in Cork’s favour.

It probably won’t go down as one of the better All-Ireland finals, played before an official attendance of 81,604, but the frantic climax made up for the poor first half. It will certainly be fondly recalled by Cork – who had twice lost All-Ireland finals in the previous three years, both times to Kerry, and 16 previous finals in total. Now they’ve collected a seventh title, their first since 1990. Yet, Down had been the better team for most of the first half, and held a three-point lead at the break. But the slow-burning game finally caught fire in the last 20 minutes when both sides went at each other with increasing determination. Daniel Goulding’s contribution of 0-9 was pivotal, as Donncha O’Connor was one of the few other Cork forwards that managed to sparkle.

Cork had trailed throughout the first half, and so needed the better start to the second half, yet Down made it, Paul McComiskey hitting his third point. A Goulding free balanced that out, and on 41 minutes, Canty was introduced to instil further momentum into Cork. It worked, with Goulding’s fourth free reducing the gap to two points, 0-9 to 0-7. Mark Poland and O’Connor then exchanged scores, as the tension mounted. Goulding reduced the gap to the minimum on 47 minutes, and finally the Cork supporters came alive. Both sides turned up the aggression, but Cork made it count – levelling the game on 50 minutes with a beautiful point from Ciaran Sheehan. Kevin McKernan restored Down’s advantage, briefly, as O’Connor’s free levelled it again – before Paul Kerrigan shot Cork in front on 56 minutes.

Two 45’s in quick succession from Goulding pushed Cork 0-14 to 0-11 in front, just before the hour mark, and for the first time they looked like winners. Still, Peter Fitzpatrick clawed one back for Down with just over five minutes to play. But when O’Connor curled over a gem of a point it looked like Cork’s day. Again Down reduced it to two, with a point from Ronan Murtagh. But Cork hit back with Goulding’s third 45, before Benny Coulter shot over the bar at the other end, when the goal chance appeared to be on. Hughes then fisted a point to close the gap to one, 16 to Down’s 15 – with only two additional minutes announced. But Down ran out of time, ultimately, as Cork won the vital last swing of possession.

Cork were dealt a blow before the start when Canty failed a late fitness test on his troubled hamstring, with John Miskella taking his place instead. Yet Cork started like a hurricane, assaulting the Down defence. Sheehan had a glorious goal chance stopped on the line by Daniel McCartan. Yet all they could salvage from that series of attacks was a free for Goulding, on two minutes. Down soon settled into the game, a nice point from Danny Hughes on five minutes, followed by an even better effort from Paul McComiskey on 10 minutes. Still, both teams were guilty of some overly-anxious play, and several wides. Cork levelled it again on 13 minutes with a second free for Goulding, but Down were winning more possession – and a Marty Clarke free put them back in front moments later, followed by a big point from his brother John. Another free for Marty Clarke followed, and so Down were up 0-5 and 0-2, and already looking far more comfortable.

McComiskey added his second point on 18 minutes, and Down went four clear, leaving Cork looking increasingly directionless. Paul Kerrigan and Miskella both hit awful wides around 25 minutes, and on the sideline manager Conor Counihan must have been wondering if they’d ever get their act together. At the other end, Hughes stretched Down’s lead to five with his second point. Eventually, a free from Donncha O’Connor ended Cork’s 20-minute wait for a score, and moments later, in the 31st minute, Goulding scored their first from play. Marty Clarke added a third free, but O’Connor responded with a great point, as Cork finally got their skates on. So, they went into the break with Down just three points clear, 0-8 to 0-5. But Cork’s second half performance, and the hunger and desire they showed in ending their losing finals streak, was what this game will be long remembered for.

CORK: A Quirke; E Cadogan, M Shields, R Carey; N O’Leary, J Miskella, P Kissane; A O’Connor, A Walsh; C Sheehan (0-1), P O’Neill, P Kelly; D Goulding (0-9), D O’Connor (0-5), P Kerrigan (0-1).

Subs: N Murphy for O’Connor (half time), G Canty for Kissane (41 mins), C O’Neill for P O’Neill (55 mins), D Kavanagh for Murphy (65 mins), J Hayes for Kerrigan (68 mins).

DOWN: B McVeigh; D Martin, D Gordon, D Rafferty; D Rooney, K McKernan (0-1), C Garvey; P Fitzpatrick (0-1), K King; D Hughes (0-3), M Poland (0-1), B Coulter (0-1); P McComiskey (0-3), J Clarke (0-1), M Clarke (0-3).

Subs: C Maginn for J Clarke (45 mins), R Murtagh (0-1) for McComiskey (55 mins), B McArdle for Rafferty (56 mins), A Brannigan for King (64 mins), C Laverty for Poland (66 mins)

Referee: David Coldrick (Meath)

Team News

Cork SFC (v Down): Alan Quirke, Eoin Cadogan, Michael Shields, Ray Carey, Noel O’Leary,. Graham Canty (captain), Paudie Kissane, Alan O’Connor, Aidan Walsh, Ciaran Sheehan, Pearse O’Neill, Patrick Kelly, Daniel Goulding, Donncha O’Connor, Paul Kerrigan

CORK AND DOWN HEADLINE FOOTBALL’S BIG DAY

It has been a fascinating season on the GAA All-Ireland hurling and football final circuit and there’s one more big day to come when Cork and Down clash in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final in Croke Park on Sunday (3.30). It will be preceded by the ESB GAA Football All-Ireland Minor Championship Final between Cork and Tyrone at 1.15.

It will be a first ever All-Ireland final meeting between Cork and Down – indeed they have only met once before in the championship back in 1994 when Down won a semi-final by five points.

Cork are seeking their 7th All-Ireland senior title – and their first since 1990 – while Down are seeking their 6th and their first since 1994. Down have the distinction of having won all five finals they reached in 1960-61-68-91-94.

Cork have appeared in four finals since winning their last one in 1990 but lost in 1993-99-2007-2009.

Paths to the final

Cork

Cork 0-15 Kerry 0-15 (Munster semi-final) Kerry 1-15 Cork 1-14 (After extra-time) Replay Cork 1-19 Cavan 0-4 (Qualifier – Round 2) Cork 0-12 Wexford 0-5 (Qualifier – Round 3) Cork 0-16 Limerick 1-11 (Qualifier – Round 4) After extra-time Cork 1-16 Roscommon 0-10 (All-Ireland quarter-final) Cork 1-15 Dublin 1-14 (All-Ireland semi-final) Played 7, Won 5, Drew 1, Lost 1.

Average For: 1-14; Average Against: 0-12

Cork Scorers

Daniel Goulding……………..1-34 (0-24 frees, 0-2 ‘45s’) Donncha O’Connor…………1-16 (0-9 frees, 0-1 penalty) Paddy Kelly…………………….0-12 (0-6 frees) Ciaran Sheehan………………..0-9 Pearse O’Neill………………….2-3 Colm O’Neill…………………..0-8 (0-1 free) Paul Kerrigan…………………..0-6

Paudie Kissane…………………0-3

Aidan Walsh……………………0-3

Derek Kavanagh……………..0-3

Graham Canty…………………0-2

Alan O’Connor………………..0-2

Fintan Goold………………….0-2

Michael Shields………………0-1

Noel O’Leary………………….0-1

John Hayes……………………0-1 (free) John Miskella…………………0-1

Down

Down 1-15 Donegal 2-10 (Ulster quarter-final) After extra-time Tyrone 0-14 Down 0-10 (Ulster semi-final) Down 1-14 Longford 1-11 (Qualifier Round 2) Down 1-12 Offaly 1-10 (Qualifier Round 3) Down 3-20 Sligo 0-10 (Qualifier Round 4) Down 1-16 Kerry 1-10 (All-Ireland quarter-final) Down 1-16 Kildare 1-14 (All-Ireland semi-final) Played 7, Won 6, Lost 1.

Average For: 1-16; Average Against: 1-11

Scorers

Martin Clarke……..1-27 (1-0 penalty, 0-14 frees, 0-4 ‘45’) Mark Poland……….1-18 (0-13 frees) Benny Coulter…….2-11 Daniel Hughes…….0-14 Ronan Murtagh……1-7 John Clarke…………1-5 Ambrose Rodgers….1-5 (0-1 ‘45’) Paul McComiskey..0-5 (0-1 free) Aidan Carr………….1-0 Peter Fitzpatrick…..0-3 Kevin McKernan….0-3 Conor Maginn………0-2 Conor Garvey………0-1 Dan Gordon…………0-1 Declan Rooney……..0-1

Cork in All-Ireland Finals

2009: Kerry 0-16 Cork 1-9

2007: Kerry 3-13 Cork 1-9

1999: Meath 1-11 Cork 1-8

1993: Derry 1-14 Cork 2-8

1990: Cork 0-11 Meath 0-9

1989: Cork 0-17 Mayo 1-11

1988: Meath 0-13 Cork 0-12 (Replay)

1988: Meath 0-12 Cork 1-9 (Draw)

1987: Meath 1-14 Cork 0-11

1973: Cork 3-17 Galway 2-13

1967: Meath 1-9 Cork 0-9

1957: Louth 1-9 Cork 1-7

1956: Galway 2-13 Cork 3-7

1945: Cork 2-7 Cavan 0-7

1911: Cork 6-6 Antrim 1-2

1907: Dublin 0-6 Cork 0-2

1906: Dublin 0-5 Cork 0-4

1899: Dublin 1-10 Cork 0-6

1897: Dublin 2-6 Cork 0-2

1894: Dublin 0-5 Cork 1-2 (Match unfinished)

1894: Dublin 0-6 Cork 1-1 (Draw) Goal equalled five points

1893: Wexford 1-1 Cork 0-1

1891: Dublin 2-1 Cork 1-9 (Goal outweighed any number of points)

1890: Cork 2-4 Wexford 0-1

Played 24; Won 6, Drew 2, Lost 15, Unfinished 1.

Down in All-Ireland Finals

1960: Down 2-10 Kerry 0-8

1961: Down 3-6 Offaly 2-8

1968: Down 2-12 Kerry 1-13

1991: Down 1-16 Meath 1-14

1994: Down 1-12 Dublin 0-13

Played 5, Won 5.

Previous Championship Meeting

Cork and Down have only met on one occasion in championship history. That was in 1994 when Down won by 1-13 to 0-11 prior to beating Dublin in the final. The semi-final teams were:

Down: Neil Collins; Michael Magill, Brian Burns, Paul Higgins; Eamon Burns, Barry Breen, DJ Kane; Gregory McCartan, Conor Deegan; Ross Carr, Greg Blaney, James McCartan; Mickey Linden, Aidan Farrell, Gary Mason.

Cork: John Kerins; Mark Farr, Mark O’Connor, Niall Cahalane; Brian Corcoran, Stephen O’Brien, Tony Davis; Shea Fahy, Danny Culloty; Stephen Calnan, Larry Tompkins, Don Davis; Colin Corkery, Joe Kavanagh, Paul McGrath.

Top Scorers 2010 Championship

Kildare’s John Doyle looks certain to top the scoring lists for the 2010 GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championships. He scored 1-49 (52 points), one point ahead of Bernard Brogan (Dublin) on 3-32 (51 points).

The top scorers from Cork and Down, Daniel Goulding and Martin Clarke have a chance to close the gap next Sunday but are 15 and 22 points respectively behind Doyle.

The top ten are as follows:

1. John Doyle (Kildare)………….1-49 (52) 2. Bernard Brogan (Dublin)…….3-42 (51) 3. Daniel Goulding (Cork)………1-34 (37) 4. Donal Shine (Roscommon)….1-31 (34) 5. Martin Clarke (Down)…………1-27 (30)

– Colm Cooper (Kerry)……………1-27 (30) 7. Cian Ward (Meath)……………..2-23 (29) 8. Padraic Joyce (Galway)……….1-25 (28) 9. Joe Sheridan (Meath)…………..5-11 (26) 10. Bryan Sheehan (Kerry)………2-19 (25)

GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Roll of Honour Will Cork win their 7th All-Ireland title and join Meath in joint fourth place on the roll of honour or will Down win their 6th title and join Cork in joint fifth place?

36 – Kerry (1903-04-09-13-14-24-26-29-30-31-32-37-39-40-41-46-53-55-59-

62-69-70-75-78-79-80-81-84-85-86-97-2000-2004-2006-2007-2009)

22 – Dublin (1891-92-97-98-99-1901-02-06-07-08-21-22-23-42-58-63-74-76-

77-83-95)

9 – Galway (1925-34-38-56-64-65-66-98-2001)

7 – Meath (1949-54-67-87-88-96-99)

6 – CORK (1890-1911-45-73-89-90)

5 – DOWN (1960-61-68-91-94)

5 – Cavan (1933-35-47-48-52)

5 – Wexford (1893-1915-16-17-18)

4 – Kildare (1905-19-27-28)

4- Tipperary (1889-95-1900-1920)

3 – Louth (1910-12-57)

3 – Mayo (1936-50-51)

3 – Offaly (1971-72-82)

3- Tyrone (2003-2005-2008)

2 – Limerick (1887-1896)

2 – Roscommon (1943-44)

1 – Armagh (2002)

HISTORIC FOOTBALL FINAL ON SEPTEMBER 19

History will be made in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final on Sunday, September 19 when Cork and Down meet for the first time at this level. Down clinched a place in the final for the first time since 1994 with a two point (1-16 to 1-14) win over Kildare in last Sunday’s semi-final. It’s the sixth time that Down have reached the final and, remarkably, they have won all previous five in 1960-61-68-91-94. Cork and Down have met only once before in the championship. That was back in the 1994 All-Ireland semi-final which Down won by 1-13 to 0-11. Cork will be bidding to win the title for the first time since 1990 and for the 7th time in all. They have reached four finals since 1990 but lost them all to Derry (1993), Meath (1999), Kerry (2007) and Kerry (2009).

Cork will also be in the ESB GAA Football Minor All-Ireland Championship Final where they will meet Tyrone. It’s the first time since 1993 that Cork are in both Minor and Senior finals.

GAA All Ireland Football Finals Referees Announced

David Coldrick (Meath) and Michael Duffy (Sligo) have been appointed as referees for All-Ireland GAA Football Senior and Minor Football Finals respectively.

David will be assisted by umpires Tony Kearney, John Coldrick (both Blackhall Gaels), James Matthews (Cortown) and Stephen O’Hare (Syddan). The stand-by referee for this fixture will be Gearóid Ó Conámha (Galway), the linesman is Maurice Deegan (Laois) and sideline official for the day, Syl Doyle (Wexford).

This is the second senior inter-county football final refereed by the Meathman.