Sport

Cork strike late with two goals

Cork 2-11 Offaly 2-5 A late scoring spree by Cork saw them defeat Offaly in a disappointing All-Ireland quarter-final at Semple…

Mon Jul 28 2003 - 01:00

Cork 2-11 Offaly 2-5A late scoring spree by Cork saw them defeat Offaly in a disappointing All-Ireland quarter-final at Semple Stadium on Saturday.

In a dramatic finish Offaly led by five points with just 10 minutes remaining in the game but Cork turned the game on its head with a brace of late goals.

They struck with a goal by centre back Michael Aherne to cut the gap and Kevin Canty then hit a second goal four minutes later to come from behind to lead by a goal.

Further points by late substitutes Aisake Ó hAilpín and Ronan Conway eased them into the semi-final.

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It was a low scoring first half and Offaly led marginally at the interval by 1-2 to 0-4. The opening half was very disappointing and was blighted by a lot of missed chances with the teams hitting a combined total of 16 wides. Offaly started well with Cathal Parlon finding the net after three minutes. Parlon added Offaly's final points in the first half deep into injury time.

Offaly's second goal came after 36 minutes when Joe Bergin flicked home from close range.

Cork's first-half scores came from Brian Canty (two), Mark Harrington and Ger O'Leary. The standard of play improved after the interval and Offaly led by 2-4 to 0-5 at the close of the third quarter.

After playing quite poorly the Cork forward line suddenly ignited in the dying minutes, scoring a total of 2-5 for which Offaly had no real answers.

Aherne flicked home a powerful free for Cork then Kevin Canty took a pass from Conway to drive home a decisive second goal.

Four of the Cork forwards, plus all of their half-back line got on the score sheet.

After some good moments in the second half Offaly failed to score in the last 10 minutes.

However, Cork managed to come good at the vital time to eventually see off the Offaly challenge.

CORK: E O'Sullivan; E O'Sullivan, N Horgan (capt), S O'Neill; S Cronin (0-1), M Aherne (1-0, free), B Clifford (0-1); M Harrington (0-2, one free), B Coleman; J Bowles, K Canty (1-0), G O'Leary (0-1); B Canty (0-2), B Barry (0-1), M Allen. Subs: A Ó hAilpín (0-1) for B Canty; R Conway (0-2) for M Allen; E Manning for G O'Leary.

OFFALY: L Beevans; D Hoctor, P Cleary, C O'Meara; N Rogers, D Hayden, H Ryan; J Keane, K Sadler; G O'Grady, J Bergin (1-1), C Parlon (1-1); E Lee, D Cordial (0-3, two frees), D Molloy. Subs: E Beevans for G O'Grady.

Referee: Seamus Roche (Tipperary).