Cork took the points in this NFL Division 2 clash at a sleety Pairc Ui Rinn, overcoming two sendings-off to beat visitors Louth.

Cork were on top early on, leading 0-4 to 0-1 after 10 minutes, a fine Colm O’Neill effort from long range the pick of the scores.

With Louth struggling to find room up front Cork were 0-6 to 0-2 ahead on 20 minutes - the home side then struck for goal, Mark Collins placing Sean White for a calm finish.

With Cork dominant, Michael Hurley and Ian Maguire prominent, the home side led 1-8 to 0-3 on the half-hour, but Cork keeper Ryan Price had to beat away a Conor Earley shot for goal, and Price repeated the dose from Ciaran Downey before half-time.

A Ryan Burns 45 late on was matched by a Mark Collins point from play, leaving it 1-9 to 0-4 at the break.

A low-scoring second half didn’t lack incident. On 47 minutes Cork lost Kevin O’Driscoll to a second yellow card and two quick Louth points made the score 1-10 to 0-6.

Louth substitute William Woods pointed three frees in a row to cut the deficit to four when Cork substitute Peter Kelleher got a straight red with five minutes left.

Cork defended well, however, and deep in injury time Cian Kiely rounded off a sweeping move with a good goal.

Scorers for Cork: S. White, C. Kiely (1-1 each); C. O’Neill (3 frees)(0-4); M. Collins (2 frees)(0-3 each); C. Kiely, M. Hurley (0-1 each).

Scorers for Louth: R. Burns (3 frees, 1 45)(0-4); W. Woods (frees)(0-3); A. McDonnell, G. McSorley, B. Duffy (0-1 each).

CORK: R. Price, S. Ryan, J. O’Sullivan, S. Wilson, T. Clancy, C. Dorman, C. Kiely, I. Maguire (c), R. Deane, S. White, M. Hurley, K. O’Driscoll, S. Sherlock, C. O’Neill, M. Collins.

Subs: M. Taylor for Sherlock (HT); D. O’Callaghan for White (51); D. Quinn for Dorman and P. Kelleher for Hurley (both 58); C. Dorgan for Maguire (65); P. Clancy for Wilson (70).

LOUTH: C. Lynch, J Bingham, E. Carolan, F. Donohue, D. Marks, J. Stewart, A. Williams, C. Earley, B. Duffy, C. Downey, J. McEneaney, A. McDonnell, R. Burns, D. Maguire, C. Grimes.

Subs: E. Lafferty for Marks and T. Durnin for McEneaney (HT); G. McSorley for Earley, W. Woods for Burns and J. Craven for Bingham (all 53); T. McEneaney for Grimes (57).

Referee: M. McNally (Monaghan).