Cork showed great tenacity as they overcame
the first half dismissal of goalkeeper Dónal Óg Cusack to
qualify for an All-Ireland quarter-final. Despite the
scoring exploits of Joe Canning (2-12), Galway were outgunned in
tonight's fourth phase qualifier, played in front of a
30,082-strong Thurles crowd. The Tribesmen led 2-05 to 0-09 at
half-time with Canning scoring a late penalty after Cusack was
sent-off for his second booking. But Cork, inspired by 12-point
hero Ben O'Connor, came good to set up a mouth-watering
all-Munster clash with Clare. Facing each other in the
Championship for the first time since the 2005 All-Ireland
final, this was a game that both Cork and Galway's seasons
rested upon and quite possibly the futures of their respective
managers. Galway boss Ger Loughnane altered his starting line-up
before the throw-in, as was expected. Full-back Fergal Moore was
unable to start due to a hamstring injury, but experienced
forward Alan Kerins did come into the side after recovering from
a toe injury. Damien Joyce was moved to full-back but he had his
problems there and was eventually replaced. Cork full-back
Diarmuid O'Sullivan also struggled on youngster Joe Canning, who
got the better of him for his first goal. Loughnane's side got
off to a poor start, going 0-04 to 0-00 behind with Cathal
Naughton, team captain John Gardiner and Ben O'Connor (0-02) all
on target. Ten minutes in however, Canning, only playing in his
third senior Championship match, got Galway into contention as
he shrugged off the challenge of O'Sullivan and sneaked a
stunning shot past Cusack for his first goal. O'Sullivan was
soon off to have a blood injury repaired but Cork held firm and
did not let their early good work go to waste. The in-form Joe
Deane tagged on a point and Naughton did likewise to push the
Rebels 0-06 to 1-00 ahead, before Damien Hayes registered
Galway's opening point 20 minutes into the encounter. It was nip
and tuck as the game drifted towards half-time with both Ben
O'Connor and Canning notching some impressive frees. Canning
looked to have a goal chance as he stood over a 20-metre free
but the 19-year-old wisely opted for a point. A typical long
range point from Gardiner had Cork 0-08 to 1-04 ahead but the
game's first real turning point arrived in first half
injury-time. A swift Galway attack ended with Kerins batting the
sliotar to the Cork net but referee Barry Kelly had already
blown his whistle before the goal was scored. Kelly penalised
Cork 'keeper Cusack for a foul on Kerins as the Galway forward
tried to bulge the net. The foul earned Cusack his second yellow
card, Cork were suddenly down to 14 men and they had a penalty
to defend. Cork manager Gerald McCarthy reacted by bringing
substitute net minder Martin Coleman on for outfield player
Naughton, but the new man in, flanked by two defenders, stood
little chance as Canning rocketed the penalty to the back of the
net. O'Connor and Canning, the ace free-takers, swapped further
points as Loughnane's charges took a 2-05 to 0-09 lead into the
second half. Canning had 2-04 to show for the first 35 minutes.
Cork switched things around for the start of the second 35 as
O'Sullivan was called ashore and Naughton was re-introduced.
With Ollie Canning their extra man, Galway ominously moved into
a three-point lead with teenager Canning again to the fore. But
Galway struggled to pull away and Cork managed to heap the
pressure on them with a run of six successive points. Deane, who
was a constant threat in open play, O'Connor and Naughton all
helped themselves to scores as McCarthy's men found an extra
gear. Having beaten Antrim and Laois in their previous
qualifiers this summer, this was Galway's first real test of the
2008 Championship and when push came to shove, they failed it.
Cork almost nabbed a goal but substitute Pat Horgan, who was put
through after a sizzling run by Jerry O'Connor, had his shot
saved by Galway stopper James Skehill. Ben O'Connor then took
his tally to 0-10 as he pointed to move Cork 0-18 to 2-09 ahead.
With Galway amassing 13 wides by that stage, the Tribesmen
looked rudderless and devoid of ideas. Cork, who defended
stoutly during the end-game, continued to look the livelier side
with O'Connor soon putting them five points in the clear.
Predictably, Galway threw everything they had at their opponents
in the closing ten minutes. Niall Healy found his range and
Richie Murray, going for goal, had his shot deflected over.
Canning tried his heart out, firing over three late points but
O'Connor had the last word when he split the posts with a superb
effort from near the sideline. Job done and Cork, after a
disappointing Munster campaign, look back in business.
Cork: D Cusack; S O'Neill, D O'Sullivan, B
Murphy; J Gardiner (Capt.) (0-02), R Curran, S Ó hAilpín; T
Kenny, J O'Connor; P Cronin, N McCarthy (0-01), T McCarthy; B
O'Connor (0-12), J Deane (0-04), C Naughton (0-03).
Subs: P Horgan (0-01) for T McCarthy, M Coleman for
Naughton, C Naughton for D O'Sullivan.
Galway: J Skehill; D Joyce, D Forde, O
Canning; S Kavanagh, J Lee, A Cullinane; F Healy, R Murray
(0-01); I Tannian, K Hayes, A Kerins; D Hayes (0-01), J Canning
(2-12), N Healy (0-01).
Subs: C Dervan for Joyce, A Smith for K Hayes, A
Callanan for Kerins, G Farragher for D Hayes, C Donnellan for F
Healy.
Referee: Barry Kelly (Westmeath).
