Louth book historic All-Ireland quarter-final spot after last-gasp Sam Mulroy free sinks Cork

The Wee county captain completed a revival that was initiated by Donal McKenny’s second-half goal as Ger Brennan’s charges clawed back a four-point deficit to prevail amid extraordinary scenes of celebration.

Cork looked in prime position to qualify for a third quarter-final in succession but a combination of poor finishing and defensive errors combined to send the Rebels packing, as they lost to Louth for the first time since the 1957 All-Ireland final.

John Cleary’s men were the better side for long spells and it was in the second quarter where the Rebels fully took charge, recovering from a two-point deficit to move ahead and hold a 1-5 to 0-5 advantage at half-time.

Midfielder Colm O’Callaghan was the driving force behind Cork’s gradual improvement and he kicked three excellent points in an opening period where all of the visitors scores came from play.

Brian O’Driscoll got the Leesiders off the mark in the eighth minute, following a fairly laboured start where both sides retreated their entire complement into the defence when out of possession, but Louth’s response was impressive as they hit four of the match’s subsequent five points.

Having injected his trademark, lethal pace to a slow attack, Craig Lennon burst through to level matters and after O’Callaghan and Sam Mulroy (free) exchanged white flags, Ryan Burns’ brace put the Wee county two points in front.

The Hunterstown Rovers clubman looked extremely sharp and was integral to a number of intricate moves that threatened to produce a goal but when the major they promised didn’t materialise, Cork made Brennan’s side rue their profligacy with a controlled finish to the half.

Rory Maguire ended a 15-minute barren spell for the Rebels with a point and when O’Callaghan found the target in quick succession, the Munster men had regained the initiative.

And, crucially, when the opportunity for goal arose, they were clinical. Thomas Clancy and Ian Maguire were involved in a move that set full-back Daniel O’Mahony in behind and he spectacularly palmed the ball over the head of ’keeper Niall McDonnell and into the far corner of the net.

Four points behind and without a score in more than a quarter of an hour, Mulroy’s free cut Louth’s interval deficit and the Louth captain was on the mark from another dead ball at the start of the second half, making it 1-5 to 0-6.

Cork were slow out of the blocks after the restart and Louth capitalised, levelling via Paul Mathews, who blazed over with the net at his mercy, and another score from Lennon.

They should really have been ahead by the time the Rebels responded – Conor Grimes and Burns spurning openings – as Brian Hurley, who recovered from injury to take his place in the forward line, opened Cork’s second-half account.

Louth remained in the ascendency and had a pass by Mulroy, following a turnover by Grimes, been slightly more accurate, Conall McKeever would have had a one-on-one opportunity with Cork goalkeeper Christopher Kelly.

They did, however, make the breakthrough on 56 minutes when another dropping shot by Grimes was fumbled by Kelly amid contact by McKenny and the Louth defender picked up the loose ball before firing, left-footed, to the net.

The major seemed to spark Cork to life somewhat and three successive wides preceded a two-point salvo – either side of McDonnell denying Eoghan McSweeney in stunning style – by Chris Óg Jones to level proceedings midway through the closing quarter.

In a tense finale, the Rebels pressed for a winning score but in a last gasp breakaway, Lennon was fouled and from the resultant kick, Mulroy held his nerve to see Louth through to a quarter-final meeting with either Donegal or Armagh.

SCORERS – Louth: S Mulroy 0-4 (4f); D McKenny 1-0; R Burns, C Lennon 0-2 each; P Mathews 0-1. Cork: C O’Callaghan 0-3; D O’Mahony 1-0; C Óg Jones 0-2; R Maguire, B O’Driscoll, B Hurley 0-1 each.

LOUTH: N McDonnell 7; D Campbell 7, D Corcoran 7, D McKenny 8; B Duffy 7, A Williams 8, C McKeever 7; T Durnin 7, C Byrne 5; C Early 6, C Keenan 6, C Lennon 8; R Burns 8, S Mulroy 8, C Grimes 7. Subs: P Mathews 7 for Byrne (27), L Grey 6 for Early (63), L Jackson for Burns (69).

CORK: C Kelly 6; M Shanley 7, D O’Mahony 8, K Flahive 7; R Maguire 7, T Walsh 5, M Taylor 7; I Maguire 8, C O’Callaghan 8; R Deane 6, M Cronin 6, B O’Driscoll 6; C Óg Jones 7, B Hurley 7, S Sherlock 6. Subs: T Clancy 7 for Walsh (24), E McSweeney 7 for Deane (51), S Powter 6 for Sherlock (57), C Corbett 7 for Cronin (60).

REF: N Mooney (Cavan).