Cork through to semi final thanks to blistering second half display

CORK booked their spot in the All-Ireland SFC semi-final on August 26 thanks to a blistering second half display.

Conor Counihan’s men landed 14 points in a second half that also saw Kildare reduced to 14 men when Eoin Doyle was dismissed for a second yellow card midway through the second half.

In truth though, that dismissal had little impact on the game as Cork took complete control after the restart.

There was no sign of such a comprehensive result at the break when just three points separated the sides. Cork had looked dangerous when a three minute spell yielded two goals for the 2010 champions but Kildare responded to make sure they were in touch at the break.

The Rebels raised their first green flag on 15 minutes after Paul Kerrigan’s shot was well saved by Shane Connolly only to rebound cruelly off Doyle and into the Kildare net.

The second followed quickly. Cork took advantage of a controversial decision to award them a line ball and Colm O’Neill raced through and fed Donncha O’Connor who palmed to the net to open up an eight point lead (2-5 to 0-3).

Kieran McGeeney’s Kildare then rallied with the introduction of Daryl Flynn giving them a foothold in midfield and with points from the likes of John Doyle, Eoghan O’Flaherty and Alan Smith meant they trailed by 2-5 to 0-8 at the short whistle.

However, Kildare showed little in the second half as a ruthless Cork wasted few scoring opportunities and the superb Aidan Walsh took control in midfield.

Cork might have goaled again but Connolly made a superb save to deny the Nemo Rangers man as the Rebels ran out convincing winners