Colm O Neill
Sunday March 27
Allianz Football League Division 1
Cork v Down, Pairc Ui Rinn, 2pm
It has been a strange and fluctuating campaign for Cork mixed with comprehensive wins and crushing losses. What matters most of all, though, is the fact that four points have been pocketed. Adding two more to the collection is what Cork intend to do.
One more victory over Down on Sunday might just be enough to preserve Cork’s top flight status for another year. Sandwiched between Cork’s triumphs over Mayo and Monaghan were defeats against Donegal, Roscommon, and Dublin.
Down’s return to Division 1 has been a deep disappointment with relegation looming barring a stunning late rally. The optimism generated from last year’s promotion fizzled out in the summer when Derry and Wexford outfoxed Down in the Championship.
In the 2016 Allianz Football League Donegal, Monaghan, Kerry, Roscommon, and Dublin have all prevailed in their respective games against Down. Unfortunately the statistics are fairly grim for Down, who have only netted one goal in their five encounters so far.
That major arrived during a defiant burst at the start of Down’s most recent clash with Dublin, who eventually pulled clear to record a 1-15 to 1-7 success. Monaghan were the only team Down came close to beating in the second fixture of the competition, but manager Eamonn Burns was encouraged by the display against Dublin.
"I thought we had a couple of goal chances in the closing stages,” Burns commented. “Had we taken them this might have changed the result, but I was very happy with the performance.”
Burns wants Down to adopt a ‘positive approach’ in the upcoming matches with Cork and Mayo. "We have two big games now against Cork and Mayo and we will take a positive approach and try to win them," Burns said. " We knew it wasn't going to be a quick fix, but we're happy with the progress we're making."
Cork terminated a three match losing streak when outwitting Monaghan 1-20 to 1-13 with Colm O’Neill instrumental. It also illustrated the importance of a good start as Cork struck 1-5 without reply before Monaghan registered a score.
A determined Cork caused Dublin plenty of problems in their previous encounter too so Peadar Healy’s team are beginning to acquire form. Focused on ‘learning and improving’ Healy was happy with the work rate Cork demonstrated after the interval against Monaghan.
The Farney County had found a way back into the reckoning, but Cork remained cool in the third quarter. Now the challenge for Cork is to maintain that level of performance as the Rebels seek to avoid the drop.
Down know that a sixth straight league loss will relegate them so the visitors’ must produce Leeside. Healy is demanding consistency from Cork, who still have to travel to Tralee to face Kerry on April 3.
Cork: Ryan Price; Colm O'Driscoll, Eoin Cadogan, Kevin Crowley; Tom Clancy, Jamie O'Sullivan, Brian O'Driscoll; Kevin O'Driscoll, Ian Maguire; Sean Kiely, Paul Kerrigan, Mark Collins; Colm O'Neill, Peter Kelleher, Luke Connolly.
Down: TBA
