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O'Sullivan secures Cork's top-flight survival

Cork 1-9 Monaghan 0-8: A goal by Kevin O'Sullivan in the 29th minute of the second half was the score that ultimately ensured…

Mon Apr 10 2006 - 01:00

Cork 1-9 Monaghan 0-8: A goal by Kevin O'Sullivan in the 29th minute of the second half was the score that ultimately ensured Cork's survival in Division One as they recorded a four-point victory over Monaghan in Castleblayney.

Cork's cause was not helped when they were reduced to 14 men 17 minutes into the second-half when Noel O'Leary was shown a second yellow.

While Monaghan opened the scoring with a point from Tom Freeman in the third minute it was Cork who went on to dominate the first half as Monaghan failed to register again for 30 minutes, by which time Cork had five points on the board.

Monaghan's second point of the game came two minutes from the half-time break when Eoin Lennon converted but they were guilty of some wayward finishing.

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The weather conditions improved considerably in the second half as did the standard of play with Monaghan pulling back a point within a minute of the restart through Rory Woods.

Cork responded with points from Derek Kavanagh and Fintan Gould to set a trend for the second period of being able to respond any time Monaghan threatened.

Approaching the end of the third quarter another pointed free from Paul Finlay left two between the sides and when he fired over an excellent point from distance in the 22nd minute the game was set for an exciting finish with just one point separating the sides.

O'Sullivan got a point in the 63rd minute to put his side two in front and a minute later the goal came when O'Sullivan fisted a centre from Philip Clifford to the back of the Roscommon net.

Monaghan pulled back a late point from Woods but that proved to be no more than a consolation.

CORK: A Quirke; M Shields, G Canty, M Prout; N O'Leary, G Spillane, S Levis; D Kavanagh (0-1), D Hurley; C McCarthy, D Niblock (0-1), N Murphy; D Goulding (0-2), F Gould (0-1), K O'Sullivan (1-4). Subs: K McMahon for N Murphy, P Cliffor for F Gould.

MONAGHAN: S Duffy; C Flanagan, J Coyle, D Morgan; K Sheerin, V Corey, D McArdle; P Finlay (0-3), E Lennon (0-1); S Gollogly, D Freeman, D Clerkin; T Freeman (0-1), R Woods (0-2), P McGuigan (0-1). Subs: B McKenna for E Lennon, K Tavey for P McGuigan, H McElroy for D Clerkin.

Referee: M Deegan (Laois).