Offaly left reeling as rampant Cork run riot with five goal spree

OFFALY came up against the reality of top flight hurling when a rampant Cork side easily dismantled them in a one sided contest at Glenisk O'Connor Park on Sunday.

Allianz National Hurling League Division 1A Round 4

OFFALY 0-16

CORK 5-28

After encouraging displays in their opening three games of the campaign, Offaly came a cropper on this occasion as Cork simply tore through them and Offaly struggled to keep tabs on them with the Leesiders never relenting in their search for scores.

Offaly did well for the first quarter and but for a lot of wides would have been well in contention but once Cork got in for their first goal in the 19th minute, Offaly were really chasing the game. The concession of a second goal on the stroke of half time was a real sucker blow and the visitors had a 10 point lead at the break, 2-12 to 0-8.

Offaly would have looked to make a good start to the second half to try and make it competitive but it just never happened for them. The sides traded points early in the half, mainly from frees, before Cork hit their third goal midway through the half. They put the icing on the cake later in the game with two further goals plus a string of points as a visibly tiring Offaly side just struggled to keep pace with them.

It was a sobering experience for Offaly and a bit of a setback after their promising earlier performances. They will now look to bounce back with a better display when they host Clare in their final group game in Birr on Saturday next.

Cork were relentless throughout and all six forwards had scored from play before half time. They showed their strength in depth as they threw on subs in the second half and three of them, Brian Hayes, Darragh Fitzgibbon and Shane Kingston managed to added a total of 2-6 to their tally. In all 12 different players scored from play for them as they showed their strength all over the pitch, scoring 5-20 from play.

In contrast Offaly really struggled to get scores. Only five of their points came from play and no player scored more than once from play. David Nally was their only scorer in the second half with eight points, only one of them from play. That in essence showed their problems and they never threatened Patrick Collins in the Cork goals.

Offaly were struggling when they went long on their puck outs as the Cork half back line was winning clean ball in the air and setting off on attack again. They had a bit more success when they went short and tried to work the ball out, though occasionally they ran themselves into trouble doing that.

The first half wides didn't help Offaly, hitting nine in that first 35 minutes. On a couple of occasions they had a chance to follow up a point with another score almost straight from the puck out but on both occasions, decent chances of scores were squandered with the ball sent wide and the chance to build a bit of momentum lost.

Mark Troy and sub Stephen Corcoran both made some fine saves in the Offaly goals while Sam Bourke, Cathal King and Jason Sampson worked tirelessly in defence. Eimhin Kelly worked hard around the middle of the field but they failed to sparkle in attack.

The Cork half back line cleared up in the air and Offaly found it difficult to get past Ger Mellerick, Tim O'Mahony and Robert Downey. Brian Roche and Luke Meade both enjoyed good games in the middle of the field while Alan Connolly, Declan Dalton and Shane Barrett impressed in attack.

Offaly had two wides on the board before Cork opened the scoring after three minutes through Jack O'Connor, quickly followed by a Conor Lehane point. Dan Ravenhill scored Offaly's first after five minutes and they were level two minutes later through an Eoghan Cahill free, but missed two further opportunities to take the lead after that.

Robert Downey put Cork back in front and Declan Dalton (free) and Alan Connolly stretched the lead to three after 15 minutes. Sam Bourke pulled one back for Offaly and almost straight after missed an opportunity of adding to that. Cork then began to stretch clear as Seamus Harnedy and Shane Barrett hit points before the first goal came after 19 minutes. Tim O'Mahony won a ball in the air sent it long into the goalmouth where Alan Connolly won it and despite being under pressure mananged to find the Offaly net. Declan Dalton added a free and Cork were eight points clear.

Eoghan Cahill pointed two Offaly frees but Declan Dalton ('65'), Jack O'Connor and Luke Meade replied for Cork. Dan Bourke had a glimpse of a goal for Offaly but drilled his effort over the bar and Eoghan Cahill added another. Declan Dalton hit a good point for Cork before disaster struck on the stroke of half time. Conor Lehane's long ball was kept in play by Alan Connolly and as Ben Conneely and Mark Troy advanced to try and win the ball, Connolly managed to slap it beyond them to the net. Eoghan Cahill did add an Offaly free but Cork held a 10 point half time lead, 2-12 to 0-8.

Just nine seconds after the restart Brian Roche had added to Cork's lead and Declan Dalton added a '65' following a great save by Mark Troy from Seamus Harnedy. Troy picked up an injury in the incident and was replaced by Stephen Corcoran.

The early part of the half failed to ignite as David Nally and Declan Dalton added two points each from frees. Brian Roche and Darragh Fitzgibbon found the target for Cork with David Nally replying with another Offaly free.

Robert Downey then hit two in quick succession before Alan Connolly completed his hatrick with the third goal. Offaly did respond with the next three points, all from David Nally, two frees and one from play. Shane Kingston did likewise for Cork with Nally adding another Offaly free. Cork then went into overdrive and Brian Hayes, Conor Lehane and Luke Meade all added points before Brian Hayes and Darragh Fitzgibbon got in for a brace of goals. Shane Barrett and Shane Kingston added further points with David Nally's '65' being the lone reply for Offaly.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

CORK: Patrick Collins; Niall O'Leary, Damian Cahalane, Eoin Downey; Ger Mellerick, Tim O'Mahony, Robert Downey; Brian Roche, Luke Meade; Declan Dalton, Conor Lehane, Seamus Harnedy; Jack O'Connor, Alan Connolly, Shane Barrett. Subs. Robbie Cotter (for Jack O'Connor, half time), Darragh Fitzgibbon (for Seamus Harnedy, 44 mins), Shane Kingston (for Declan Dalton, 54 mins), Brian Hayes (for Alan Connolly, 57 mins), Cormac O'Brien (for Robert Downey, 67 mins).

OFFALY: Mark Troy (Durrow); Padraig Cantwell (Shamrocks), Ben Conneely (St Rynagh's), Cathal King (Carrig & Riverstown); David King (Coolderry), Jason Sampson (Shinrone), Sam Bourke (Durrow); Eoghan Cahill (Birr), Eimhin Kelly (Lusmagh); Dan Ravenhill (Durrow), Killian Sampson (Shinrone), David Nally (Belmont); Dan Bourke (Durrow); Oisin Kelly (Belmont), Adam Screeney (Kilcormac/Killoughey). Subs. Charlie Mitchell (Kilcormac/Killoughey) (for Dan Ravenhill, 13 mins), Jack Clancy (Belmont) (for Eoghan Cahill, half time), Stephen Corcoran (Coolderry) (for Mark Troy, 37 mins), Luke Watkins (Shinrone) (for Adam Screeney, 43 mins), Donal Shirley (Tubber) (for Padraig Cantwell, 49 mins), Morgan Watkins (Birr) (for Eimhin Kelly, 68 mins).

REFEREE: Colum Canning (Antrim)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Cork full forward Alan Connolly got in for three goals and was a very effective target man. He had work to do for all three goals but used his strength effectively to force the openings to finish to the net. He proved a handful for the Offaly defence throughout.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The first Cork goal was the moment that daylight began to appear between the teams. Offaly had been hanging on to Cork's coat tails up to that and but for some bad wides would have been closer but that first goal after 19 minutes put seven points between the teams and Cork just eased away after that with Offaly never looking like they were going to close the gap significantly.

REFEREE WATCH

Colum Canning let a lot of the physical stuff go throughout the game but he was consistent in his rulings and his officiating wasn't a factor in the game. Overall he gave a good display.

WHAT’S NEXT

Offaly play at home to Clare next Saturday at Grant Heating St Brendan's Park, Birr, while Cork's final group game is away against Wexford.

VENUE WATCH

There was a good crowd in for this eagerly awaited clash and everything was in order at O'Connor Park. Drizzly rain made the surface a bit slippy but on the whole in the circumstances it was in decent condition.

STATISTICS

Wides; Cork 7 (5 in first half) Offaly 10 (9 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Cork 3 (Eoin Downey, Robert Downey, Tim O'Mahony) Offaly 3 (Oisin Kelly, Ben Conneely, Charlie Mitchell)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Cork; Alan Connolly (3-1), Declan Dalton (0-7, 0-4 frees, 0-2 '65s'), Darragh Fitzgibbon, Brian Hayes (1-1 each), Shane Kingston (0-4, 0-2 frees), Robert Downey (0-3), Jack O'Connor, Conor Lehane, Shane Barrett, Luke Meade, Brian Roche (0-2 each), Seamus Harnedy (0-1).

Offaly; David Nally (0-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 '65'), Eoghan Cahill (0-5, 0-4 frees), Dan Ravenhill, Sam Bourke, Dan Bourke (0-1 each).