Disaster for Cork football as they lose to Louth for the first time since 1957

Louth: 1-9 

Cork: 1-8 

CORK’S season has come to an end after defeat to Louth in the All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final tie at Grattan Park in Inniskeen on Sunday afternoon. 

The Rebels looked to have had the measure of Louth but a green flag from the Wee County after 56 minutes proved to be a huge score. Extra time did look to be on the cards but Sam Mulroy landed a free deep in injury time to spark wild celebrations from Louth. Huge disappointment for Cork.

Louth have really evolved under Ger Brennan this season and certainly tested Cork in every sector, as the Leesiders just didn’t have the answers heading down the home straight to prevail.

Cork will have huge regrets with how this one panned out as the campaign comes to an end. A lack of composure once again one of the reasons why Cork have come second best. 

There were two changes on the Cork team that was announced on Thursday evening with Ruairí Deane and Brian Hurley coming in for Paul Walsh and Seán Powter.

In what was always going to be a cagey contest, scores were hard to come by especially in the early stages. Cork had a half goal chance after five minutes but Tommy Walsh’s shot, after a Chris Óg Jones pass, was straight at Louth goalkeeper Niall McDonnell.

John Cleary’s side got the first score after eight minutes, patient build up play resulted in Brian O’Driscoll slotting over a point. The home side replied a minute later when Craig Lennon pointed in what was an easy score for Louth.

A boomer from Colm O’Callaghan restored the Rebels advantage after eleven minutes but it was level again after 16 minutes when Mulroy converted a placed ball and they went ahead for the first time 50 seconds later, a fine Ryan Burns point, 0-3 to 0-2. The same player raised another white flag as Louth pushed two points clear.

Cork got a much needed score, their first in 15 minutes, when Rory Maguire bisected the posts with nine minutes to the interval. In a topsy-turvy first half, Cork were now having their purple patch and a pair of points from impressive midfielder O’Callaghan nudged the Leesiders in front with the short whistle three minutes away.

Cleary’s charges struck for a crucial score after 34 minutes when Ian Maguire gave a tremendous pass to Daniel O’Mahony who burst up the pitch and the latter flicked the ball over a helpless Louth netminder McDonnell. Mulroy kicked a free for Louth, but the Rebels led 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time.

The Wee County reduced the deficit two minutes into the new half when Mulroy slotted over a simple free followed by a Paul Mathews effort which could have been a goal. The Leinster side were level after 43 minutes when Lennon raised a white flag.

After a frustrating first 16 minutes of the second half, Cork got their first score since the goal when Hurley clipped over a great point from an acute angle. Louth raised a green flag after 56 minutes when Donal McKenny was quickest to react to a bouncing ball in a crowded penalty area to slot the ball into the back of the net, 1-8 to 1-6. A pair of Óg Jones points drew Cork level with eight minutes remaining.

The game went into three minutes of added on time with the game deadlocked before Mulroy landed a free which turned out to be the winner which sparked a pitch invasion. 

Louth’s first win over Cork in championship since 1957. A long road home this evening. 

Scorers for Louth: S Mulroy 0-4 f, D McKenny 1-0, C Lennon, R Burns 0-2 each, P Mathews 0-1.

Cork: C O’Callaghan 0-3, D O’Mahony 1-0, C Óg Jones 0-2, B Hurley, R Maguire, B O’Driscoll 0-1 each.

LOUTH: N McDonnell; D McKenny, D Campbell, D Corcoran; C McKeever, A Williams, C Lennon; T Durnin, B Duffy; C Early, C Keenan, C Grimes; R Burns, S Mulroy (c), C Byrne.

Subs: P Mathews for C Byrne (27, inj), L Grey for C Early (64), L Jackson for R Burns (68).

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

Subs: T Clancy for T Walsh (23, inj), E McSweeney for R Deane (51), S Powter for S Sherlock (56), C Corbett for M Cronin (60).

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).