Allianz Football League Division I

Cork 4-11
Down 0-10

A strong first half performance was the difference for Cork as they overcome Down in Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon.

Attacker Patrick Kelly was the hero for the home side kicking three of his sides four goals and that was a concession of scores that Down never looked liked recovering from.

Ironically, it was Down that made the better start of the two teams and were three points to the good after ten minutes with Aidan Carr and Liam Doyle on target for the Mourne Men.

However, Cork soon exploded into life and hit back with 2-4, a tally that went unanswered by Down. Donncha O’Connor opened the Rebels account and points from the impressive Mark Collins and Michael Shields had drawn them back level by the 21st minute.

From there things only got better for the home side as Patrick Kelly hit two goals with a Barry O’Driscoll point sandwiched in between. Down regrouped towards the end of the first half and found scores through the lively Conor Laverty and Dan Gordon to cut the gap to five but Cork were not finished yet.

Fintan Goold was on hand in the 36th minute to point and in the closing moments O’Connor expertly dispatched a penalty to the net to gift Cork an impressive 3-5 to 0-5 advantage at the break.

Conor Counihan’s man did not relent and in the first 15 minutes of the second half the margin of separation was extended. Donncha O’Connor and namesake Alan tapped over points for Cork, while Dan Gordon got Down’s opening score of the half. Kelly then completed his hat-trick after reacting quickest to a break in front of goal and that instinctive effort knocked the stuffing out of their guests and put four goals between them.

Liam Doyle replied for James McCartan’s side but Cork notched four unanswered points with Donncha O’Connor again to the fore and there was never going to be a way back for Down.

Cork: A Quirke; R Carey, E Cadogan, M Shields (0-1); G Canty, P Kissane, N O'Leary; A O'Connor (0-1), P O'Neill (0-1); F Goold (0-1), M Collins (0-1), P Kelly (3-0); B O'Driscoll (0-2), D O'Connor (1-4), F Lynch. Subs: P Kerrigan for Lynch (25), E Cotter for Cadogan (half-time), S Kiely for O'Leary (54), L Shorten for Goold, N Murphy for A O'Connor (both 65).

Down: B McVeigh; D Turley, D McCartan, O Costello; G McCartan, L Doyle (0-2), K Quinn; P Turley, D Gordon (0-1); D Hughes, A Carr (0-5), A Branigan (0-1); B Coulter, C Laverty (0-1), M Poland. Subs: C Garvey for D McCartan (32), C Maginn for Poland (half time), K McKernan for G McCartan, A McArdle for P Turley (both 42), B McArdle for Costello (52), G McCartan for Branigan (69, blood).