All-Ireland SFC: Cork finish third after losing out to Tyrone

Tyrone: 1-18 

Cork: 0-17 

CORK have been beaten by Tyrone in a game decided by crucial moments in the All-Ireland SFC Group 3 Round 3 encounter at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore on Saturday afternoon.

After a thrilling win over Donegal two weeks ago, the Rebels didn’t perform at the same levels in this one but they still certainly performed admirably but just didn’t have enough to get over a streetwise Tyrone side.

Cork had the chances to push clear of Tyrone, but failure to do so proved fatal as the Ulster side were clinical. 

As a result of Donegal defeating Clare, the Leesiders drop to third which means an away preliminary quarter-final tie next weekend which will be tough mentally and physically to prepare for now given the quick turnaround.

There was one change from the team that was announced on Thursday with Steven Sherlock coming in for the injured Brian Hurley.

Cork started well when Mark Cronin slotted over a free after 40 seconds following a driving run from Colm O’Callaghan which resulted in the Tyrone defence fouling the Éire Óg player. Tyrone’s response was a fisted point from Niall Devlin following patient build up play.

The teams then traded frees, Sherlock for Cork and a long range effort from Tyrone goalkeeper Niall Morgan, 0-2 each in a lively opening seven minutes. The sides exchanged the next four white flags before Chris Óg Jones slotted over a point for John Cleary’s side in what was a potential goal chance after 17 minutes.

Cork could have possibly been further in front had it been for four wides and one dropped short but for the first time in the game, the Leesiders pushed two points clear when Sherlock curled over a beauty, 0-6 to 0-4 after 21 minutes. The Red Hand County weren’t going away as they hit two of the next three white flags to keep in touch.

And the Ulster side were level when Darragh Canavan bisected the posts and they went in front for the first time after 29 minutes when Seán O’Donnell raised a white flag after good work by Ruairí Canavan. In keeping with the match it didn’t take long for the teams to be deadlocked once more after Brian O’Driscoll kicked a sweet long range effort, 0-8 each with six minutes to the break.

The teams traded white flags in a free flowing match with some decent kick passes. The Rebels had their noses in front when Sherlock converted a free, 0-10 to 0-9 at the break. Seven times the teams were level in that first 35 minutes.

Cork had a great goal chance two minutes into the new half when Tommy Walsh made a fabulous striding run to play in Paul Walsh but the latter, with the goal gaping, hit his shot narrowly wide.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first as the teams traded points with very little to separate the sides. Darren McCurry drew parity before Cork were reduced to 14 players for 10 minutes when Óg Jones tripped the Tyrone netminder Morgan after 43 minutes. A costly black card.

Darragh Canavan put his side in front but Cork remained patient and an O’Driscoll effort levelled for a tenth time. Tyrone struck a crucial score after 47 minutes when Ben Cullen finished low, 1-12 to 0-12.

The Ulster outfit hit two of the next three points before Óg Jones came back on the pitch. Tyrone were in the ascendancy though as they kept Cork at arms-length with 10 minutes remaining. A McCurry effort pushed his side five clear before they were reduced to 14 players after 63 minutes when Conn Kilpatrick received a straight red card for an off the ball incident.

Tyrone had the chance to put the game to bed but Cork goalkeeper Christopher Kelly denied O’Donnell, a great save. Tyrone netminder Morgan converted a 45 to push six clear after 67 minutes.

A Sherlock free did reduce the margin but time was against Cork at this stage. The teams traded points going into added on time as Tyrone led 1-17 to 0-15. The teams then tacked on frees, McCurry for Tyrone and Sherlock for Cork as the game petered out.

Sherlock had a close range free that was tipped over for a point as the green flag would remain elusive. The final whistle sounded not long after. Disappointment for Cork.

A preliminary quarter-final away from home next weekend.

Scorers for Tyrone: D Canavan 0-5 (0-1 f), B Cullen 1-0, D McCurry (f), N Morgan (0-1 f, 0-1 45) 0-3 each, R Canavan 0-2, N Devlin, C Kilpatrick, M O’Neill, M McKernan, S O’Donnell 0-1 each.

Cork: S Sherlock 0-8 (0-6 f), M Cronin 0-4 (0-2 f), C Óg Jones 0-3, B O’Driscoll 0-2.

TYRONE: N Morgan; M McKernan, P Hampsey, A Clarke; B Cullen, M Donnelly, N Devlin; B Kennedy, C Kilpatrick; C Daly, R Canavan, M O’Neill; D McCurry, D Canavan, S O’Donnell.

Subs: P Harte for M O’Neill (h-t), C McShane for R Canavan (64), S O’Hare for S O’Donnell (67), C Quinn for B Cullen (69), T Quinn for D Canavan (73).

CORK: C Kelly; K Flahive, D O’Mahony, M Shanley; R Maguire, T Walsh, M Taylor; I Maguire (c), C O’Callaghan; P Walsh, S Powter, B O’Driscoll; M Cronin, C Óg Jones, S Sherlock.

Subs: R Deane for S Powter (49), C Corbett for P Walsh (53), S Meehan for K Flahive (66), C O’Mahony for M Cronin (68), K O’Hanlon for B O’Driscoll (71).

Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon).