| National Hurling League Div 1B |
| Sat. 22nd March 2003 |
|
Cork 1-17 - OFFALY 2-17 |
| Mike
McNamara and his fellow selectors had every reason to be pleased by the
unexpected outcome to this Allianz NHL game in Birr on Saturday – all
the more so since his team trailed only once for a two-minute period in
the final quarter. Without any Birr representation until the 44th minute introduction of Stephen Browne, Offaly were justly rewarded with a third consecutive win. Lacking consistency and quite unsettled over the opening 20 minutes, experimental Cork lost out principally because of conceding a late goal when they seemed better placed to finish ahead. McNamara may have been conscious of Cork's 16 points win in the corresponding last year with just seven of the 19 players who lined out this time when he made it clear just how pleased he was. "Cork will always play good hurling and the fact that Offaly could stand up to them and match them in most quarters was a bonus," he commented. "These lads have been working very hard and it's starting to show in their fitness levels. While it's only the first rung of the ladder we would have to happy with that performance." Pointing out that his team had the chances to win, manager Donal O'Grady readily accepted that 'a lot of work' lies ahead to make Cork more competitive. "The game revealed a lot of things, maybe. We're just looking to learn a few lessons from these matches and hope that we can make progress," he commented. "There were a few chances in the first half that we should have taken and didn't. And, he felt that the late goal they conceded 'rocked' them and 'put them under severe pressure!' Backed by a slight wind, Offaly hit over four points inside the first seven minutes, doubled their total by the 20th and conceded only one point in between. That came from a John Gardiner seventy, conceded when corner-back Kevin Brady stopped Eoin Fitzgerald's penalty in the 10th minute after team captain Alan Browne was fouled. The home side also combined better as a unit, achieving an early dominance at half-back and midfield and making the best of their scoring chances. In contrast, it was a struggle for Cork to get the ball beyond the half-forward line and when it did go in further, both Joe Deane and Alan Browne were being well marked by Ger Oakley and Kevin Brady respectively. It was only when the backs tightened up with good play from Wayne Sherlock, Mark Prendergast and Ronan Curran and midfielder Jason Barrett's persistence paid off that Cork achieved a steady improvement. And, that was confirmed with some good scores, with the hard-working John Gardiner hitting over a good free and Sean Óg O hAilpin a little more involved. On the Offaly side, right half forward Brian Carroll and Damien Murray made particularly important contributions in attack, while Mike Morrissey improved for a period at centre-forward for Cork, with Deane also more prominent and Seanie McGrath finishing the best of the six. It was 0-12 to 0-8 at half-time. Cork's stand-in goalkeeper Paul Morrissey, who was generally good under pressure, denied Neville Coughlan a goal in the 38th minute before Damien Murray had the ball in the net 11 minutes later. Interestingly, while Cork maintained their rate of improvement, the home side remained very competitive, with Colm Cassidy outstanding at right half-back, Joe Brady influential in the centre, Michael Cordial a tireless work horse at midfield and Carroll, Coughlan and Murray to the forefront in attack. Deane promised a Cork goal in the 47th minute until he was taken down by two defenders and opted for a point from the penalty. A few minutes later, Offaly's experienced 'keeper Stephen Byrne brought off a great save from substitute midfielder Michael O'Connell. And, while he was beaten by Alan Browne in the 56th minute it put Cork ahead by a point Offaly were on level terms within two minutes and back in front when Cordial pointed after Cassidy had intercepted a Deane pass. The crucial goal came from Brian Carroll in the 60th minute, and while substitute Kieran Murphy had the chance of a goal in the 65th minute, Offaly finished the stronger. Antrim referee Tommy McIntyre made few mistakes and generally handled the game well. Scorers & Teams; Offaly: D. Murray 1-5
(0-4 frees); B. Carroll 1-3; C. Cassidy 0-3 (0-2 frees, 0-1 seventy); N.
Coughlan 0-2; C. Gath, D. Franks, M. Cordial and B. Murphy 0-1 each. (Match Report Courtesy of Jim O'Sullivan, The Irish Examiner) |