In a commanding performance at Tullamore on Sunday, Cork dealt a harsh reality check to Offaly with a sweeping 5-28 to 0-16 victory. This victory came as no surprise, given Cork’s need to stave off defeat to ensure their place in top-tier hurling in the reworked league next year.
Throughout the game, Cork displayed a high-octane game, their fiery offence seemingly bewildering the Offaly defence. Although Offaly had a commendable league record, exhibiting a strong performance against both Wexford and Waterford and a resilient stand against Kilkenny, this match demonstrated a significant gap they need to overcome. Despite a solid performance in the initial phase of the game, they stood little chance of upsetting Cork.
By half time, with two goals and a score of 2-12 to Offaly’s 0-8, especially after playing against the wind in the first half, it was apparent that Cork was bound for victory. Nine wide misses in the first half compounded Offaly’s plight, preventing them from holding out for long. Even with a sharper performance, they barely stood a chance of overturning the game and deemed lucky to be trailing by only so much during the halftime.
Cork dominated the game with an additional two missed goal opportunities that would not have altered the state of the game. Additionally, some remarkable defensive display from Offaly’s Mark Troy on the 32nd minute did not save them as Alan Connolly netted the first-half brace, establishing a commanding position for Cork. The lead was 1-7 to 0-3 by Connolly’s 19th-minute goal and 2-12 to 0-7 by the 35th.
Following a less than outstanding defensive stand from Offaly, the second half was not about turning the scoreline around but minimising Cork’s margin of victory. Cork, relentless and unmerciful, maintained their high tempo play and even upped their game with significant contributions from their substitutes. The likes of Shane Kingston, Darragh Fitzgibbon, and Brian Hayes added a further 2-6 to the Cork total. The wide gap demonstrated the valuable lessons Offaly have learned and the vast improvements they need to make in the future.
During the second half of the match, Alan Connolly from Cork, who had scored three goals in the competition, was replaced alongside Declan Dalton who served as the free-taker. Offaly seemingly struggled throughout this second half, with all their points gained from David Nally’s performance. Interestingly, only a single point was achieved from play as Nally assumed the role of free-taking after Eoghan Cahill’s departure at the mid-point.
Offaly was left behind when Cork started the second half energetically. The performance of Offaly team suggested their destiny in the new Division 1B next year. Regardless of the overwhelming defeat, they displayed signs of notable improvement, adapting to the league’s challenges and answering important questions.
Nonetheless, Offaly found Cork to be in an entirely different league, a situation that came as no surprise. The defining moment came in the 52nd minute when Connolly struck his third goal, making the score 2-20 to 0-11 in favour of Cork.
In the 55th minute, Nally counted his single second-half score from play for the Offaly side. On the other hand, Darragh Fitzgibbon of Cork missed his target and had a wide in the 64th minute. As the morale of Offaly players seemed to decrease, Cork’s Brian Hayes and Darragh Fitzgibbon managed to score goals in the 67th and 69th minutes, adding the finishing touches to their victory.
Offaly’s team comprised M Troy, C King, B Conneely, P Cantwell, D King, J Sampson, S Bourke (0-1), E Kelly, D Nally (0-8, six frees, one 65), D Ravenhill (0-1), K Sampson, D Bourke (0-1), E Cahill (0-5, four frees), O Kelly, and A Screeney. However, substitutions occurred during the match with C Mitchell, J Clancy, L Watkins, D Shirley, and M Watkins replacing injured or under-performing teammates.
Cork lined up with P Collins as goalkeeper; N O’Leary, D Cahalane, and E Downey in defence; midfield consisted of G Mellerick, T O’Mahony, and R Downey, who scored 0-3. In the forward line, there was B Roche, scoring 0-2, L Meade with 0-2 and D Dalton, who managed to score 0-7, with four frees and two 65s. Other forwards were C Lehane who scored 0-2, S Harnedy (0-1) and J O’Connor (0-2). The team also featured A Connolly scoring 3-1 and S Barrett with 0-2. Substitutions were made at half-time, with R Cotter for O’Connor, followed by D Fitzgibbon (1-1) replacing Harnedy after 45 minutes, S Kingston (0-4, with two frees) replacing Dalton at 54 minutes, and B Hayes (1-1) coming in for Connolly at the 57-minute mark. C O’Brien replaced R Downey after 67 minutes. The referree was Colum Cunning from Antrim. Continue to listen to Inside Politics Podcast for in-depth analysis and discussion, and for the latest news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone, sign up for push alerts. You can also commemorate The Irish Times on WhatsApp to stay current.