Kildare pay the penalty for opening half collapse

Cork, after hitting eight two-pointers in the opening half, of this Allianz Football League Division 2 clash at Pirc Ui Rinn, defeated Kildare by nine points in what can only be descrived as an incredible game.

Kildare struggled all over the field in that opening half and while the home side had the benefit of the strong breeze in that half, plus Kildare losing Kevin Feely to injury after ten mintues, it was a lesson in score-taking from the boys in red.

Brendan Gibbons, who replaced Feely, did find the Cork net after a Darragh Kirwan effort fell short, the Kilcock man grabbed the ball, turned and fired to the net.

Half time Cork 1-22 Kildare 1-6.

However the second half saw Kildare slowly but surely eat into that lead with subs Ben McCormack and Jack Robinson leading the way.

Jack Robinson's goal in the 51 minute cut the lead back to 1-26 to 2-12; Cork came again adding four points but Kildare responded and were awarded a black card penalty only for Alex Beirne's effort to be saved by sub keeper Micheal Aodhd Ó Martin who replaced black-carded Patrick Doyle.

Kildare created three more very scorable goal chances,  Brian Byrne hit the crossbar, while Jack Robinson had two goal chances denied by excellent goalkeeping.

Kildare outscored their opponents in the second half but it was not enough after that opening half mauling.

Final score: Cork 1-31 Kildare 2-19.

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.