It's do or down for Kildare against Louth after another poor showing in their defeat to Cork

Smarting from their 20-point defeat two weeks ago at the hands of Derry, Cork were certainly not in the mood for that kind of performance again as they attacked Kildare  right from the throw-in at Pairc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening.

John Cleary's men opened with a two-pointer from the boot of Stephen Sherlock, that after just a minute, incredibly it was the first of eight two-pointers the boys in red hit in the opening half as they tore their opposition apart in almost every conceivable attack.

Sean McDonnell danced past two defenders before setting up Sherlock for his second score.

Kildare got in an early attack but Darragh Kirwan's effort was short, however 'keeper Patrick Doyle failed to gain control of the ball coming in contact with Colm Moran but the referee waved the calls for a penalty instantly away.

The home side added two more points as Kildare's failings all season of being unable to gain possession from their kick-out continued.

Nine minutes in and the visitors opened their account through Conor Moran who made it 0-5 to 0-1; Darragh Kirwan quickly added a second.

However Cork showed they were in the groove with Dara Sheedy firing over a two-pointer and straight from the Kildare kick-out Cork gained possession and Luke Fahy split the posts for a two-pointer and when Chris Óg Jones and Steven Sherlock added points the lead was out to 0-12 to 0-2, that with only 14 minutes on the clock.

Brian O'Driscoll showed his soccer skills with a lovely effort that got him away from his marker before setting up Jones for another two-pointer.

Colm Moran was dispossessed before Luke Fahy added a single as Kildare were at sixes and sevens. A foul on Darragh Kirwan now not taken advantage of as Brian McLoughlin missed the target on the left.

The Clane man was unlucky when his point attempt came off the upright but play was called back for a free which he popped over to make it 0-17 to 0-3.

Cork were playing with a strong wind but their superiority was not in class, but Kildare gave themselves a bit of hope when a Darragh Kirwan was gathered by Brendan Gibbons (on for Kevin Feely) who turned and blasted to the net.

Cork came again with two pointers from Chris Óg Jones and Mark Cronin before Kildare replied with three points on the trot from Callum Bolton, Colm Dalton and Darragh Kirwan to make it 1-19 to 1-6 on 30 minutes.

Back came The Rebels before the break, this time a two-pointer free from Sherlock and a single from Chris Óg left the half time score reading Cork 1-22 to 1-6 with The Lilies 16 adrift in this vital Allianz Football League encounter.

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Kildare introduced Alex Beirne and Ben McCormack for the start of the second half as Colm Dalton opened proceedings, soon replied to by that man Steven Sherlock.

Chris Óg Jones was put through but elected to punch over with an open goal at his mercy, Paul Walsh and Sherlock, from an acute, angle made it 1-26 to 1-7 on 43 minutes.

Ben McCormack, making his first appearance on the field since coming off after some ten minutes in the county semi-final October 5 last year, showed he has lost none of his skill, firing over a two-pointer, Colm Moran punched over soon after.

Kildare were showing signs of gaining a bit more possession but Chris Óg Jones again cut open the visitor's defence but his blistering shot was brilliantly saved by Cian Burke.

Ben McCormack, although operating from deep, came forward and hit an excellent two-pointer.

Long time absentee Jack Robinson made his presence felt with a fine individual goal but again Cork hit back with points from Jones, Sherlock, Mark Cronin and centre-back Tommy Walsh to extend the lead to 1-30 to 2-12.

Ben Loakman was the next player in white to raise a flag with a fine effort; Alex Beirne added a free as the lead was down to nine points.

Robinson put Brian McLoughlin in on goal, keeper Patrick Doyle advanced and was adjudged to have committed a black card offence, penalty awarded.

Cork were allowed, after to some confusion, to introduce sub-keeper Micheál Aodh Ó Máirtín and the experienced net-minder denied Alex Beirne's spot kick.

Ben McCormack picked up a yellow but Kildare were now enjoying their best period finding holes in the Cork defence. Brian Byrne saw his goal attempt come off the crossbar.

Jack Robinson pointed before being denied for goals and while Kirwan and Alex Beirne added points; Robinson again denied but it was man of the match Chris Óg Jones who finished the scoring of a somewhat remarkable game on a final score line of Cork 1-31 to 2-19.

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Scorers: Cork, Chris Óg Jones 1-9 (2 two-pointers), Steven Sherlock 0-10 (2 two-pointers, 1 two-pointer freer), Luke Fahy 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Dara Sheedy 0-3 (1 two-pointer), Mark Cronin 0-4 (1 two-pointer), Tommy Walsh 0-1, Paul Walsh 0-1.

Kildare, Ben McCormack 0-4 (2 two-pointers), Jack Robinson 1-1, Brendan Gibbons 1-0, Alex Beirne 0-3 (1 free, 1 two-pointer), Ben Loakman 0-2 (two-pointer), Darragh Kirwan 0-3, Brian McLoughlin 0-1 (free), Colm Moran 0-2, Colm Dalton 0-2, Callum Bolton 0-1.

CORK: Patrick Doyle; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O'Mahoney, Seán Brady; Brian O'Driscoll, Tommy Walsh, Luke Fahy; Colm O'Callaghan, Ian Maguire cpt; Paul Walsh, Mark Cronin, Seán McDonnell; Chris Óg Jones, Dara Sheedy, Stevan Sherlock. Subs: Ruairi Deane for Sean McDonnell (52 minutes); Sean Walsh for Paul Walsh (52 minutes); Matthew Taylor for Tommy Walsh (56 minutes); Micheál Aodh Ó Máirtin for Dara Sheedy (57 minutes); Darragh Cashman for Matthew Taylor (58 minutes); Rory Maguire for Patrick Doyle (66 minutes).

KILDARE: Cian Burke; Harry O’Neill, Padraic Spillane, Brian Byrne; Liam Kelly, Eoin Lawlor, Ryan Burke; Callum Bolton, Kevin Feely; Brian McLoughlin, Colm Moran, Colm Dalton; Sam Doran, Darragh Kirwan, Ben Loakman. Sub: Brendan Gibbons for Kevin Feely 10 minutes); Alex Beirne for Sam Doran (half-time); Ben McCormack kor Liam Kelly (half-time); Jack Robinson for Colm Moran (46 minutes); Eoin Cully for Ben Loakman (64 minutes);

REFEREE: Liam Devenney, Mayo.