NHL DIVISION ONE CORK V DUBLIN Dublin 4-14 Cork 1-14:DUBLIN DULY delivered for new boss Anthony Daly, but not before Cork's novices offered a stern test in front of a crowd of 2,000 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.
Three goals in the opening 16 minutes, when playing against the strong wind, did the trick for the visitors, though Dublin needed a fourth, seven minutes from the end, to finally shake off the Rebels’ spirited resistance.
Cork also suffered from the new experimental rules, losing three players to yellow cards, two in the first-half to Darren Crowley in attack and centre-back and captain Ray Ryan, and then a third to full-forward Michael Collins near the finish.
A physically stronger and more experienced Dublin struck after just four minutes for the opening goal, Liam Ryan setting up John Kelly to score easily before Liam Rushe netted twice in six minutes to secure a 3-2 to 0-3 lead.
The corner-forward used his height advantage to catch a long ball from midfield and beat the stranded goalkeeper Alan Kennedy from close range for his first. Peader Carton supplied the telling pass for Rushe’s second goal and Cork at that stage looked to be heading for a drubbing.
However some woeful shooting by the Dublin attack – all six forwards hit wides in the opening half – allowed Cork nibble away at the deficit as Barry Johnson’s free-taking and points from play by Darren Crowley, Glen O’Connor and Collins left the home side trailing 0-7 to 3-4 at the break.
Dublin would have expected to pull clear in the second half, backed by the strong wind, but they struggled badly to establish their expected dominance. Goalkeeper Alan Nolan had his 42nd minute penalty bravely blocked by Kennedy before returning to face one within four minutes.
Cork’s Johnson showed how to finish by blasting an unstoppable effort high into the top right corner of the net after the impressive Aidan Ryan was dragged down to cut the deficit to 3-8 to 1-9.
Cork’s half-back line began dominating and Dublin’s best player, Alan McCrabbe, had to switch from midfield to the full-forward line to shake off the effects of an ankle injury as his side faded.
A key moment arrived 15 minutes from the end, when Nolan saved brilliantly from an Eoghan Cronin pile-driver. The keeper was penalised for picking the ball off the ground, but redeemed himself by stopping Johnson’s subsequent goal-bound free.
Cork were still very much in the game, trailing by 3-10 to 1-12, until Dublin’s fourth goal ended their defiance. McCrabbe cut a magnificent sideline ball from way out on the left which hit the butt of the upright and finished in the net, goalkeeper Kennedy clearly hindered by the sun.
Afterwards, Cork manager Gerald McCarthy declined to comment on Saturday’s protest march in the city, but took a swipe at the striking players from last year’s squad.
“It’s scandalous that a group of players, representing Cork, would have to go out without any experienced players to help them along. It’s a shame and it’s more of an indictment of the people who’ve walked away from Cork than those who performed here,” he said.
McCarthy stressed the importance for Cork of actually playing the game.
“We’ve fulfilled a National League fixture, which in other circumstances, if players had their way, we would not fulfil.
“And we would be deemed by those in authority to go down to Division Two without a fight. I am not prepared to do that. If we end up in Division Two out of this, at least we will have fought.”
DUBLIN:A Nolan; R Treanor, T Brady, N Corcoran; M Carton, S Hiney, captain, D O'Reilly (0-1); S Durkin, A McCrabbe (1-9, 1-0 sideline, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '65); J Boland, L Ryan, J Kelly (1-0); D O'Callaghan (0-1), P Carton, L Rushe (2-1). Subs :S Lambert for Boland half-time, J McCaffrey (0-1) for Kelly (51 mins), M O'Brien for M Carton (54 mins), D Treacy (0-1) for O'Callaghan (58 mins), S Martin for P Carton (62 mins.)
CORK:A Kennedy; E Clancy, C Murphy, C O'Sullivan; E Keane, R Ryan, captain, C Leahy; B Johnson (1-6, 1-0 penalty, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '65), G O'Connor (0-1); T Óg Murohy, A Ryan (0-1), D Crowley (0-1); A Mannix (0-2), M Collins (0-1), E Cronin (0-1). Subs: T Murphy for Crowley yellow card (22 mins), J Moran for Ryan yellow card (29 mins), R O'Driscoll for Clancy (54 mins), G O'Driscoll (0-1) for Collins yellow card (60 mins).
Referee:J Ryan (Tipperary).
