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Prodigal Cork take time to tear up the formbook

NFL Division One A/ Cork 0-15 Tyrone 0-7 : Cork tore up the formbook at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night, collecting their first…

Mon Feb 26 2007 - 00:00

NFL Division One A/ Cork 0-15 Tyrone 0-7: Cork tore up the formbook at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday night, collecting their first league win after two defeats and inflicting a first defeat of the season on Tyrone.

Cork's old problems were again evident in the first half as they dominated for long spells but led only 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval, leaving the much-changed table-toppers firmly in contention.

Indeed, it took a couple of forays upfield by defenders Ger Spillane, magnificent at centre back all through, and the experienced Anthony Lynch, to show the front men the way.

Cork owed their superiority to the powerful efforts of their three-man midfield of Dermot Hurley, Derek Kavanagh and Alan O'Connor, the latter named at centre forward instead of Nicholas Murphy before the start.

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And their lion-hearted defending helped shackle the Tyrone attack. Eoin Sexton revelled in a new role at right corner back. Michael Shields curbed Owen Mulligan. And Tyrone had no answer to Spillane's energetic drives.

Cork also showed greater appetite, regularly winning the breaking ball with an intensity Tyrone lacked.

Tyrone rarely moved out of middle gear in the first half and collapsed completely on the resumption.

Their problems stemmed partly from Seán Cavanagh's failure to impose himself in the middle and the inability of forwards Mulligan and Stephen O'Neill to make much impression against a resolute Cork defence in which full back Shields added to his growing reputation.

O'Neill managed to make it a one-point game early in the second half and Tyrone had only themselves to blame for not restoring parity - much less edging in front - as they missed a couple of kickable frees, including an effort from O'Neill that struck a post.

And Tyrone's prospects nosedived with Mulligan's 52nd-minute red card for a late challenge on Shields at a stage when Cork were still clinging to a narrow lead, 0-7 to 0-5.

His departure gave Cork renewed hope and they proceeded to open up the visitors' defence at will in a dynamic closing spell, thanks to the brilliant finishing of James Masters and Kevin O'Sullivan.

With 12 minutes remaining and Cork now 0-9 to 0-5 clear, the home side ended Tyrone's resistance with five more points without reply as O'Sullivan (2), Masters, Donncha O'Connor and Kevin McMahon all found the range as the Munster champions, at last, opened their account.

CORK: P O'Shea; E Sexton, M Shields, K O'Connor; N O'Leary, G Spillane (0-1), A Lynch (0-1); D Kavanagh, D Hurley; S O'Brien, A O'Connor, K McMahon (0-1); J Masters (0-6, one free), D O'Connor (0-1), K O'Sullivan (0-5, one free). Subs: M Cussen for O'Brien (67 mins); D Goulding for Masters (67 mins); C McCarthy for D O'Connor (68 mins); E Cadogan for O'Leary (70 mins).

TYRONE: P McConnell; D Carlin, C McGinley, M McGee; D Harte, C Gormley, J McMahon; G Cavlan, S Cavanagh (0-1); R Mulgrew (0-1), O Mulligan, C Cavanagh; C McCullagh (0-1), S O'Neill (0-3, one 45), R Mellon (0-1). Subs:E McGinley for C Cavanagh (30 mins); P Donnelly for Magee (49 mins); P Quinn for Carlin (56 mins); K Hughes for Cavlan (57 mins); P Rouse for S Cavanagh (66 mins).

Referee: A Mangan(Kerry).