NFL DIVISION ONE Cork 2-15 Armagh 1-12:CORK OVERCAME the second-half sending off of dual star Eoin Cadogan to secure a well-deserved victory, which guarantees them a final date with Dublin, at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday.
Armagh, who also finished with 14 players after full-back Kieran Toner was shown a second yellow card in injury-time, survive for another year in the top flight after Galway’s draw with Dublin.
Cork led 1-10 to 1-8 after 48 minutes when Cadogan was red-carded for lashing out at Steve McDonnell, who had grabbed his jersey. McDonnell received a yellow card for his role.
The league holders carved out the necessary result after Armagh restored parity at 1-11 apiece with three unanswered points from the outstanding Jamie Clarke, Andy Mallon and Billy Joe Padden.
The sides exchanged points again before Cork dominated the closing 10 minute.
Fittingly, half-time substitute Donncha O’Connor ignited the late charge, planting a super point from way out on the right before under-21 captain Aidan Walsh extended the lead to two points.
Then four minutes from the end, in a game watched by an attendance of 3,705, Cork’s Paul Kerrigan’s pass found another substitute Pa Kelly. His attempt at a point rebounded from the upright to O’Connor, who dispatched the ball to the net with aplomb. That put Cork 2-14 to 1-12 ahead. It contrasted sharply with a scrappy first-half, during which defences were mostly on top though Clarke and Cork’s Daniel Goulding rose above the general mediocrity.
Cork led 0-7 to 0-6 at the break but goal chances were missed at either end. Ciarán Sheehan blazed wide in the opening minute, McDonnell was denied by a brilliant Michael Shields’ block and moments later Ken O’Halloran saved well from Clarkes 15th minute effort. Armagh led 0-6 to 0-4 approaching the interval, when Goulding (two) and Walsh kicked fine points.
O’Connor’s introduction at half-time paid an immediate dividend as he expertly converted a 39th-minute penalty after goalkeeper Paul Hearty brought him down.
Armagh’s response was swift, Aaron Kernan walking the ball to an empty net after Micheál O’Rourkes long punt found McDonnell, who sent Kernan clear of the defence; 1-7 apiece. Then came Cadogan’s dismissal and Cork’s courageous resistance.
CORK: K O'Halloran; R Carey, M Shields, E Cadogan; J Miskella, N O'Leary, P Kissane; A O'Connor, A Walsh (0-2); F Goold, P Kerrigan (0-1), C Sheehan (0-2); D Goulding (0-7, three frees), F Lynch, P ONeill. Subs: D O'Connor (2-3, 1-0 pen, one a free) for Lynch (ht), P Kelly for O'Neill (55 mins), J O'Sullivan for Carey (65), P O'Flynn for Kerrigan (68), D O'Sullivan for Walsh (69).
ARMAGH: P Hearty; V Martin, K Toner, B Donaghy; A Kernan (1-2, one free), A Mallon (0-1), K Dyas; J Lavery, C Vernon; M Mackin, BJ Padden (0-1), P Duffy; J Clarke (0-4), S McDonnell (0-4, two frees, one 45), M ORourke. Subs: T Kernan for Duffy (44 mins), G Swift for ORourke (55 mins), A Duffy for Mackin (59), D McKenna for Dyas (65), F Hanratty for Padden (69).
Referee: M Condon(Waterford)
