Daniel O’Mahony on Donegal victory: This win could be a season-changing moment

THERE hasn’t been too much to shout about over the past 10 years for Cork football but a mass pitch invasion at Páirc Uí Rinn last Saturday told the story.

The Rebels had taken down Jim McGuinness and his Donegal charges in a thrilling All-Ireland SFC Group 3 Round 2 tie on what was a stunning day for a game of football watched by a full house at the Boreenmanna Road venue.

John Cleary’s side prevailed on a scoreline of 3-9 to 0-16 which leaves them top of the group heading into the final round of games. Cork face Tyrone knowing a win or a draw will send them straight into the quarter-finals of the Sam Maguire.

It was a real team performance all over the park which included a fine man-marking job on one of Donegal’s main forwards Oisín Gallen by teak-tough defender Daniel O’Mahony. The Knocknagree man largely restricted the attackers presence which helped the Leesiders come out on the right side.

O’Mahony was elated when speaking to The Echo not long after the final whistle but he didn’t want to over celebrate the win either.

“A great day to be a Rebel,” O’Mahony said. 

“A great day for Cork football. A fantastic win over a strong side, just delighted to get a win out of it to be honest. A fantastic team performance and just looking forward to the Tyrone game now in two weeks’ time.

“It’s important to enjoy days like this one because it’s a brilliant day for Cork football as I just said. Páirc Uí Rinn was packed out, the Rebel roar there in the final 10 minutes was massively uplifting. You can enjoy today, but at the same time, there’s a huge prize on offer in two weeks’ time against Tyrone. If you win that one, you are straight through to the quarter-finals.” 

Cork were two points down at the break last Saturday but in reality they shouldn’t have been. Cleary’s troops had played the better football but the crucial moments were initially against them before turning in their favour.

“We were actually a small bit disappointed going in at half-time,” the defender says.

“But, at the same time we stuck to the process and we knew if we stuck to the process that we would be in a good place heading into the closing stages and that’s what happened thankfully and it pulled us through. While we were disappointed, we were still really looking forward to getting out there for the second half because we knew our purple patch would come and we got the two goals inside the first five minutes of the second half.

“Those two goals a minute apart carried us through and that’s going to rock any team. It was great to get them when we did and thankfully we were able to hang on and just finish the job. We dug in.” 

Cork were on the ropes heading down the home straight as Donegal had kicked the last four points to draw level. The momentum was with the green and gold, a side who hadn’t tasted defeat in competitive football in 2024 prior to making their way down to Leeside. This year’s Allianz Division 2 league champions and Ulster winners were about to be beaten.

“There were five minutes of added on time and I think we managed it very well,” O’Mahony said.

“Donegal drew level, then we went in front and we just held onto the ball. We didn’t give away possession and then to turnover the ball right at the end and get a score from Colm [O’Callaghan] to push us two clear was the cherry on the cake really. Once you get that bit of momentum you have to cling to it, so hopefully if we do that, this win could be a season-changing moment but that will be seen now in the next match,” O’Mahony concluded.

Roll on Tyrone.