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Boost for Cork

Cork overcame the conditions to score a morale boosting victory over Ulster champions Armagh at Pairc Ui Rinn yesterday

Mon Oct 30 2000 - 00:00

Cork overcame the conditions to score a morale boosting victory over Ulster champions Armagh at Pairc Ui Rinn yesterday. A crowd of just over 1,000 braved the wind and rain for a contest which provided plenty of skilful football despite the unfavourable elements.

Colin Corkery was a constant thorn in the Armagh side, using his physique to telling effect on a demanding surface and scoring Cork's goal. That came in the 52nd minute and effectively killed off any hopes of an Armagh revival. It was his third score in a glorious four minute spell as Philip Clifford split the defence for Corkery to power his way through for a well taken goal.

Cork declared their intentions from the outset, racing into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after just five minutes with Clifford accounting for three points. Armagh took a while to settle; but a 10th minute goal brought them back into contention. Centre forward Cathal O'Rourke was the provider for left corner-forward Cathal Shortt to slip the ball past goalkeeper Kevin O'Dwyer.

Cork's full forward line was thriving on the excellent service provided by midfielder Nicholas Murphy. Fionn Murray, one of the best under-age players on Leeside in recent times, underlined his potential by scoring three points to leave Cork 0-9 to 1-4 in front at the interval.

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Jo Kavanagh, who was also promoted from the bench before the start scored two points as the inside line contributed 1-10 between them.

Armagh's main threat came from the impressive free-taking of O'Rourke and Oisin McConville, whose free after 45 mins reduced the deficit to a point 0-11 to 1-7 before Corkery blitzed the visitors with his goal and two points in quick succession.

Cork lost the services of Eoin Sexton late on with an injury, but by that stage they had the league points wrapped up.

CORK: K O'Dwyer; J Miskella, G Canty, A Lynch; M O'Donovan, E Sexton, G Lynch; N Murphy, B Collins; M Cronin, P Clifford (0-3), P O'Mahony (0-2); J Kavanagh (0-2), C Corkery (1-5), F Murray (0-3). Subs: P Mullane for Cronin; A O'Connor for Sexton (inj).

ARMAGH: P Harty; J Toal, G Reid, A O'Rourke; J Byrne, T McEntee, A McCann; P McGrane, A O'Neill; P McKeever, C O'Rourke (0-7), O McConville (0-3); S McDonnell (0-1), B Duffy (0-1), C Shortt (1-0). Subs: S O'Hare for Shortt; M O'Rourke for Duffy; G O'Reilly for Byrne.

Referee: H Beirne (Roscommon).