Cork produce great escape to condemn Offaly to the drop

Cork retained their Division 2 status by the skin of their teeth after an enthralling relegation shootout with Offaly in Tullamore.

Behind by 1-19 to 1-17 with five minutes of normal time remaining, Cork were staring a devastating defeat in the face but they rallied powerfully to pull the game out of the fire.

After Brian Hurley and Ruari McNamee swopped points, Cork were still behind by a point as it drifted into injury time.

However, they got the win with points from Cian Kiely and a Stephen Sherlock free, awarded controversially for a kickout infringement after Paddy Dunican took a short one and then stopped the ball from going out over the end line.

Offaly manager John Maughan did not take issue with that free afterwards, stating that he was not fully aware of the technicalities of the rule and instead focussing on a very brave display by his side while insisting that they would get fully up for the Tailteann Cup if they do end up there later in the year.

It was a frantic end to a quite superb game of football, played on a summer type day in a championship-type fervour with two passionate sets of supporters creating a superb atmosphere.

It was fitting that Sherlock got that late free as he was ultimately the difference between the teams, kicking nine points with five of them from play.

Cork started superbly and could have been out of sight after ten minutes as they tore into Offaly.

An excellent second-minute goal from Cathal O'Mahony helped them to a 1-04 to 0-01 lead after 11 minutes but it could have been much more. Twice Colm O'Callaghan took points with the goal at his mercy – he fisted over after 16 seconds when he really should have went for it while his tenth-minute point was not as clear cut, it was still a chance.

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