Cork bucked the trend to defeat Louth at the Integral Gaelic Grounds by a five points in Division 2 of the Allianz Football League.
Both sides have had the edge on each other at their respective home venues in recent seasons but John Cleary's powerful Rebels passed the litmus test to run out deserved winners on Louth territory.
Cleary actually missed two first-half penalties the last time they played each other in the venue (back in 1994), but there would be no further bad memories after a strong end to the first half.
Following his cameo the week previous, Steven Sherlock repaid the manager's faith by top-scoring in his first start for two seasons.
While Cork were settling into a ground they have not played in for 32 years, Louth stole a march with an early lead. Sam Mulroy landed two frees that would prove a false dawn.
Once Cork got up and running, they overran their hosts. Tommy Walsh from corner-back set the tone with a powerful run and finish to match. Once the template was bedded in, Cleary’s side fixated on that aspect of the game plan.
Chris Óg Jones was enjoying himself with an early point, more from the Iveleary man was to come.
Gavin Devlin’s team were maintaining their own kickout but slow attacks and a tally of eight opening-half wides stopped them from building any sort of momentum.
With Cork in the ascendancy it became a tail of two goal chances. Mulroy dragged his low effort wide one end, while Jones found the net in the next Cork attack.
The vision of Brian Hurley playing his colleague in made it a simple task for Jones to blast past debutant goalkeeper Tiernan Markey. Although the setback, Louth would respond through their two recent All-stars, Craig Lennon and Mulroy. The goal already looked to be proving to be the difference between the sides before half time.
With the minds wandering before the break, the self destruct button was pressed for the home side as they conceded possession cheaply and punished with two orange flags expertly take from Steven Sherlock (free) and Hurley.
The visitors had a commanding 1-10 to 0-05 lead at the break, and it was a long way back for Louth even at that stage. Ciaran Downey and a three-point burst would not be enough as Cork weathered the storm to win their opening two league games for the first time since 2020.
Louth: Tiernan Markey; Padraic Tinnelly, Dermot Campbell (1-00), Donal McKenny; Eoghan Callaghan, Peter Lynch, Craig Lennon (0-01); Dara McDonnell, Conor Early; Paul Mathews, Sam Mulroy (0-06, 0-03f, 0-01 '45), Conor Grimes (0-01); Ciaran Keenan, Ciaran Downey (0-03, 1tp), Ryan Burns.
Subs: Tadhg McDonnell (0-01) for Callaghan (ht), Sean Callaghan for Mathews (44), Daire Nally for Grimes (54), Conall McCaul for Keenan (58), Sean Reynolds for Early (62).
Cork: Patrick Doyle; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O’Mahony, Tommy Walsh (0-01); Matty Taylor, Brian O’Driscoll, Luke Fahy (0-01); Colm O’Callaghan, Sean Walsh; Paul Walsh, Sean McDonnell (0-02), Chris Óg Jones (1-01); Mark Cronin (0-02), Brian Hurley (0-02, 1tp), Steven Sherlock (0-08, 0-04f, 1tpf, 0-01 ‘45).
Subs: Rory Maguire for Taylor (45), Ian Maguire for S Walsh (blood 48), Ruairi Deane for P Walsh (53), Dara Sheedy for Cronin (58), Conor Daly for Hurley (67), Jacob O’Driscoll for O’Driscoll (68).
Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)
