A physically stronger Cork team ensured a successive All-Ireland final misery for Mayo in one of the most sub-standard minor football finals in years on a heavy Croke Park pitch yesterday.
The bottom line was that the Munster champions could have enjoyed a much wider winning margin at the finish had their forwards put more weight behind their kicks when within scoring range. As it was the Mayo goalkeeper David Clarke couldn't believe his luck when collecting six toothless deliveries which fell short on his goalline.
Cork's leading scorer, Conrad Murphy, escapes all such criticism by including two massive points in his tally of five. The Clonakilty player was hardly obliged to plough a lone furrow in this instance in an attack that paraded goal-poaching opportunists of the highest calibre in Mark O'Connor and Conor Brosnan.
Both teams tended to put the emphasis on elaborate build-ups but more often than not the moves broke down after an error.
O'Connor's attempted back-heel was denied a goal in the second half. It was one of the few pieces of exciting skill displayed in a match that was almost bereft of real craft and a surfeit of frees didn't help to relieve a generally untidy affair.
O'Connor again got the crowd to its feet when cracking a pile-driver off the bar in the second half.
Opportunism was a byword for Cork's victory and the two first-half goals by Brosnan and O'Connor presented Mayo with an uphill battle from the 21st minute of the game. The first of these goals, which Mayo manager JP Kean regarded as hammer blows, could be placed in the lucky category but opportunistic nonetheless.
An attempted clearance out of the Mayo defence was blocked down into the path of Brosnan who took his chance well. Then only minutes after Mayo fought back to within a point of their rivals, O'Connor went centre stage to display his class for the second goal. The talented Erin's Own player collected a cross that was drifting towards the left touchline. In a twinkling he gave Conor Moran the slip, raced goalwards and calmly slotted the ball with his left foot into the net between Clarke and his near post.
Paul Prenty emulated Conrad Murphy with a huge point from over 50 yards to again help Mayo cut the deficit to a point just before the break. However, the Munster champions contained most of Mayo's threats to lead by 2-4 to 0-8 at half-time.
Another example of Mayo's fighting spirit came five minutes into the second half when they again reduced the deficit to a point but they could never gain parity despite some gilt-edged chances for midfielders Edmond Barrett and Alan Burke towards the end. Apart from those misses, the Mayo pairing produced inspiring performances. It was fitting for Brosnan to begin the push that sent Mayo's challenge into something resembling free-fall from the seventh minute of the second half.
Strategy largely involved Cork's midfielder Garry McLoughlin returning to play a third-midfielder role in the second half, having been switched into attack in a swap with Kieran McMahon.
Mayo tried to counter but it worked best for Cork. Conor Mortimer was switched to good effect into the Mayo full-forward line and the Connacht champions unquestionably worried the Cork defence on the break.
However, Eddie Bourke, Noel O'Donovan and Paul Deane were outstanding in a cast-iron Cork full-back line. Half backs Noel O'Leary and Paul McCarthy coped with their workload well, flanking Denis O'Hare. Mark O'Connor, McLoughlin, Kieran Murphy and Brosnan deserved to gain compensation for the county's defeat in the minor hurling final.
"We always needed a goal, we opened up their defence fairly well but they were always getting back to cover in numbers," said Mayo manager Kean afterwards. "Nevertheless I am delighted with our team's performance. It's not encouraging to lose out in two successive minor finals and an under-21 into the bargain in recent years but we will fight back again."
Cork manager Teddy Holland insisted that "we made it difficult for ourselves. I wasn't happy with the way we were playing but the pitch was heavy, Our performance was not reflected on the scoreboard."
Cork: Kevin Murphy; N O'Donovan, P Deane, E Bourke; N O'Leary, D O'Hare, P McCarthy; G McLoughlin (0-1), Kieran Murphy; M O'Connor (1-1), C Murphy (0-5, three frees), J Collins; J Masters (0-2, one free), K McMahon (0-1), C Brosnan (1-2). Subs: D Barron for O'Connor (55 mins), D Burns for McLoughlin (57 mins).
Mayo: D Clarke; R Keane, R Walshe, D Geraghty; D Costelloe, E Devenny, C Moran; E Barrett (0-2), A Burke; P Prenty (0-2), C Mortimer (0-6, frees), D Flynn (0-1); P Carey, A Dillon (0-1), T Geraghty. Subs: S Drake (0-1) for Carey (35 mins), J Morrin for Geraghty (48 mins).
Referee: M Monaghan (Kildare).
