Cork v Down 12-03-2011

[bennydorano]

A bit flattering to Cork, but a bit of collapse by Down nonetheless even taking the SO into account.  Down need a FB to release  Dan to MF where they are brutal.

[Tatler Jack]

Just back from game. Good contest for 50 mins but Down faded after second goal and did not look to be as fit as Cork. Down have problems at midfield and also give away silly frees. Still it searly season and they were not 11 points worse than Cork tonight.

[drici]

Cork 3-17 Down 0-15

All-Ireland champions Cork finally rediscovered their goal-scoring touch to beat Down by 3-17 to 0-15 in an entertaining game at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night.

With just one goal in their Allianz League campaign before tonight and having struggled to find the back of the net throughout their All-Ireland-winning run last year, the Rebels scored three fine goals to condemn the Mourne men to the first defeat in the League, ensuring they are now back on course to make the final of the competition for the second successive year.

Pearse O'Neill sent the Rebels on their way with a sixth minute goal that helped Conor Counihan's side to a 1-9 to 0-10 lead at the break, while Colm O'Neill and Paddy Kelly added a coat of gloss to the win with a pair of late goals.

It was dispiriting end to a game which Down contributed handsomely to, but the intricate forward play of the influential Mark Poland was not matched by the performance of the Mourne defence, which was guilty of giving Cork's forward far too much space.

In the end, Down finished the game with 14 men after Aidan Brannigan was sent off late in the game for raising his hand.

Cork's success was built upon their dominance in midfield, while man-of-the-match Daniel Goulding contributed 0-7 from play in the first half alone, although he failed to add to his tally after the break.

Down were two points ahead inside the first two minutes, as Ronan Murtagh and Poland gave James McCartan's side the perfect start to the game.

Goulding, however, gave off some early signs that he was in the right mood with a pair of frees to level the game in the fifth minute.

The Rebels seized the initiative when they grabbed the only goal of the first half a minute later, when Alan O'Connor once again won the ball in midfield and Paudie Kissane played Pearse O'Neill through on goal. The Aghada man stretched and drove the ball home.

Goulding finished the first half with seven points, including a fine effort from play after 16 minutes, which gave Counihan's side a four-point lead, 1-5 to 0-4. It was a brilliant first-half display from the Éire Óg man, who was Cork's match-winner in the All-Ireland final defeat of the Mourne men last September, when he scored 0-9.

Colm O'Neill and Goulding, his seventh, left the Rebels in a comfortable position as half-time approached, but Down had the last say of the opening period when Conor Laverty finished off a fine move to leave just two points, 1-9 to 0-10, in it at the break.

Down opened the second half in style and were level by the 40th minute, when Martin Clarke slung over a point from a free. Cork, however, gave the perfect riposte, hitting three successive points, with Kelly on target twice and Fintan Goold sending over his third of the game.

Aidan Walsh came on for a visibly flagging Nicholas Murphy to bolster the Cork midfield and the Kanturk man made an impact, driving over a fine point from play before Cork made the decisive burst for the line in the 57th minute.

Noel O'Leary delivered a long ball into Colm O'Neill in the full-forward and the big St Colum's man turned sharply to drive home a superb goal.

Down were reduced to 14 men in the closing stages when Brannigan was sent off, while Cork finished with a flourish and a Kelly goal with practically the last play of the game gave them a 3-17 to 0-15 win.

[laoisgaa]

An epic, where Down were just undone by an every so slightly superior Cork outfit in the closing quarter.

Red card was a joke - more of a slight push off so he could get the free taken rather than anything serious. Yellow card at most.

Some strange stuff went on tonight - thankfully it didn't come down to Fitzpatrick's 'point' in the end.

Did any of ye catch my commentary after - didn't know there was an issue with audio problems on the website.

[orangeman]

No way is there 11 points between these 2 sides.

[drici]

No way is there 11 points between these 2 sides.

No, it was indeed 3-17 to 0-15 for Cork.

[Mourne Rover]

It was depressing to get such a hammering at the end of a game where we were in with a good chance going into the final quarter, but we need to take some lessons on board. Our kick-outs are beyond a joke, and must be addressed. While it would be wrong to blame Murdoch in his first league start, he did more or less the same as McVeigh in directing most of them straight to a beaten midfield. Our management team have done fantastically well over the last 14 months, but it is hard to understand how they allow this to happen. Take them short if you can, push them down the wings if necessary, but don't put them down the throats of a rampant opposition.

Although Cork are already AI champions and still improving, we made it fairly easy for them in the end. We largely dominated in the first half, but we kept giving Goulding the sort of frees which he very seldom misses. This is again fairly basic stuff. A forward on the ball under pressure has less than a 50/50 chance of scoring. If we tug at his jersey or hang off his neck, Goulding will put the free over nine times out of ten.

Conceding 3-17 is alarming, even against a fine side, and it is difficult to remember a worst total against us in league or championship for many years. The frustrating aspect is that 15 points at the other end is a more than reasonable effort away from home and could win most matches at this stage of the seasonn.

Assessing performances on television is a bit risky, but Murdoch started brightly, and had the boost of a 45 right over the black spot before his kick-outs fell apart late on. McCartan is looking like the find of the league, and has the knack of keeping out of the action but giving his man very little space. Howard struggled, and may be one of a number heading for the bench. Big Dan had some decent moments but the free he hit straight to Goulding seemed to ruin his confidence and Cork sussed that he is much more vulnerable to the low rather than the high ball.

Rooney got his usual point, and pushed up well, but was not as effective as he can be. McKernan got a wonder point, but lacked concentration and a foolish lift off the ground summed up his night, Brannigan can compete for broken possession but has little composure or discipline. His punch for the red card was pretty stupid, and may effectively finish his season.

King's fitness has become a major concern, and Ambrose cannot come back quickly enough. Fitzpatrick is brilliiant going foward but, apart from one outstanding catch, wins very little primary possessiion.

Hughes and Poland had simiilar evenings, mixing great flair with strange errors. Poland's missed 20m free cost us dearly, as it stopped our momentum during a key passage, but he always works his socks off, and Hughes will get better on the firm grounds. Marty had great moments in the first half but he did not appreciate taking on O'Leary in the second period and it was eventually his worst fade-out since Casement Park against Tyrone last summer.

Maginn pops up everywhere but was not as effective as he can be and had little impact when the game slipped away from us. Murtagh looked great early on, and, even though a typical piece of over-carrying resulted in a score for them rather than us, was unfortunate to be replaced. Laverty also had decent spells and it was questionable that he was withdrawn.

Our use of subs has been excellent in division one to date but made little difference tonight. Colgan and John Clarke barely touched the ball, while McComiskey missed his only opportunity badly. Garvey was not great, but is almost certain to start against Monaghan ns what has suddenly become a big test.

A point should keep us up, but a defeat, with trips to Dublin and Kerry following and our scoring difference swinging into the red, would be a big setback. This is a year which is still capable of going in very different directions, so, while tonight was a bad day at the office, we are still probably just about ahead of schedule.

[marym]

Midfield won it again for Cork. Also  Marty Clarke seems to find it very  hard to cope with Noel o ' Leary.

[marym]

I know Cork were in South Africa for most of Janurary. Just wondering were Down away as well. Felt that they did not have the same level of  fitness as  Cork in the 2nd half

[Maguire01]

Red card was a joke - more of a slight push off so he could get the free taken rather than anything serious. Yellow card at most.

Looked like a strike to me.

[brokencrossbar1]

Red card was a joke - more of a slight push off so he could get the free taken rather than anything serious. Yellow card at most.

Looked like a strike to me.

On the strict reading of the rules it was a strike and the man deserved to go though I have to say the Cork man when down like he was shot and I didn't think there was that much force in it.

[Chris agus Snoop]

35 scores in 70 min is some going. Great down support, game had good atmosphere for a league game.
Down didnt deserve to lose by that much, some of their forward play was sublime.

[Leo]

Back to the drawing board for the defence. Midfield again a problem. Too much overplay of the ball by the forwards.

Murdock   7  Not to blame for the goals, Kick outs good and then very bad.
McCartan  7 Best of the fb line, did a good job all night
Gordon  5  Bit of a roasting at times, I still can't believe we are persisiting with him at 3
Howard  5  Started well and then seemed all at sea for rest of his time on pitck
Brannigan  7 Not my cup of tea but was competing &  doing reasonably well until harsh sending off.
McKernan  6 Back to the same problem - he is great on the ball & going forward but you can drive a truck down the middle of our hb line
Rooney 6  Below par and was run ragged at times
King  7 Better than some are giving him credit for - gave Murphy plenty of his own medicine to stem his influence & swept up a loy of ball
Fitzpatrick  7 Still a way to go but I rate this player and he will be a fixture in this team - prone to lose possession at times but gives it all
Hughes 5 Worst game for a long time as Kissane harried him everywhere
Poland  7 Probably our best player although one free was a bad miss
Maginn 5 Ran all night but not very effective. Can we afford him & Poland in same team?
Laverty  7 Surpassed my expectations and was one of our better performers
Murtagh  7 Now that he is starting games he is drifting back to his old habit of holding on to the ball too long and ontwo occasions it was lost and led directly to crucial Cork scores. If he could cure this he is a great asset.
Clarke  6  His point was pure class and he looked  on top of his game in the first half. When O'Leary took him on he seemed to lose appetitie. Had a por second half and should have been substituted earlier.

I give my top award to the Down supporters who travelled in such significant numbers and very few of whom left early desite the game being over wuth 10 to go.

[SHEEDY]

although theres no way are 11pts worse than cork, to concede 3-17 is v alarming. midfield was cleaned out again. cork seemed much fitter in all areas of the field. downs defensive unit were poor apart perhaps from mc cartan, too many easy frees conceded. kick outs were poor again, im wondering were any lessons learned from AI final.in the last 2 games marty hes been dominated by his marker, mc keever and o leary and seemed to fade in both these games and become less of an influence. next weeks game is massive and might just determine if we stay up or not.

[snoopdog]

Down, like against Mayo ran out of steam with 15-20 minutes left. They are not at the same fitness levels as some counties yet.  i think we will just about take Monaghan next sat night but the Dubs are flying and are super fit already, Down will prob stay wih them for a bit longer as it will be a few weeks further down line.
I think Big Dan is wasted in Defence, you play your best players in their best positions he would be much more of an asset for Down at MF.
Him and Ambrose would be very hard to beat in the middle and oif your winning  high % in middle you will win most games Down are winning most games without dominating the middle so imagine what could be achieved with our best 2 in the centre.
James cant let this go on any longer surely King or Fitz could swap with Dan.