Sensational Cork stun Donegal with thrilling win

Cork: 3-9 

Donegal: 0-16 

CORK have beaten Donegal in the All-Ireland SFC Group 3 Round 2 clash at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday afternoon.

The Leesiders struck for goals at crucial stages of the game and had the experience to keep Donegal at arms-length in the closing stages to lift the roof off the Borennmanna Road venue.

It’s Donegal’s first competitive defeat this year and they were beaten by a better team on the day.

Cork will be delighted with their application, character and performance against one of the contenders for Sam Maguire this year. 

After a slow start with both teams sussing each other out, Donegal hit the front after four minutes through a Patrick McBrearty close range free. Cork had their moments early on but overplayed it too much but did level after nine minutes when Brian Hurley landed a free. McBrearty raised a white flag for the away side but it could have been a goal if it wasn’t for a fabulous save by Cork netminder Christopher Kelly.

The sides traded points before the Rebels rattled off 1-1 in a minute. The goal coming from Matty Taylor after 19 minutes, a great finish, after Seán Powter started off the attack by turning over the ball. Chris Óg Jones with the neat point.

Donegal’s response was three quick points to draw parity, 1-3 to 0-6 after 28 minutes. A boomer from Paul Walsh was a much needed score for Cork but the teams were level when Oisín Gallen pointed.

McBrearty nudged his side ahead until Cork had a great goal chance after 33 minutes but Colm O’Callaghan’s goal bound shot was blocked by Donegal bodies on the line. Ciarán Moore gave his side a two-point buffer going in at the break when the marauding defender bisected the posts right at the end of the first 35 minutes, 0-9 to 1-4 at half-time.

Cork couldn’t have dreamt of a better start to the new half with two goals in a minute. Powter with the first an unstoppable shot from close range after a pass from O’Callaghan and the second one in the 39th minute was a palmed finish from Rory Maguire.

John Cleary’s side were motoring and a Hurley free gave Cork a 3-5 to 0-9 lead after 45 minutes. The teams traded points before Donegal settled and two successive points left a goal between the teams before Hurley pointed to give Cork a four-point buffer, 3-7 to 0-12.

Points from Ryan McHugh and a Gallen free left just two points in it with nine minutes remaining. It was all Donegal and two quick points from the green and gold levelled up matters after 67 minutes.

A corker of a point from sub Steven Sherlock gave Cork the lead as the game ticked into five minutes of added on time. The Rebels added on a further score when O’Callaghan fisted the ball over the bar. A famous win.

Scorers for Cork: B Hurley 0-3 (0-2 f), M Taylor, R Maguire, S Powter 1-0 each, C Óg Jones, C O’Callaghan 0-2 each, S Sherlock, P Walsh 0-1 each.

Donegal: P McBrearty 0-7 (0-3 f), O Gallen 0-3 (0-2 f), C Moore 0-2, N O’Donnell, C McGonagle, A Doherty, R McHugh 0-1 each.

CORK: C Kelly; K Flahive, D O’Mahony, M Shanley; R Maguire, T Walsh, M Taylor; I Maguire, C O’Callaghan; P Walsh, S Powter, B O’Driscoll; C Óg Jones, M Cronin, B Hurley (capt).

Subs: C Corbett for S Powter (44), S Sherlock for C Óg Jones (50), T Clancy for T Walsh (57, inj), R Deane for M Cronin (65), E McSweeney for B Hurley (69), S Meehan for P Walsh (73).

DONEGAL: S Patton; E Bán Gallagher, B McCole, C Moore; R McHugh, C McGonagle, P Mogan; J McGee, M Langan; S O’Donnell, C Thompson, D Ó Baoill; P McBrearty, O Gallen, N O’Donnell.

Subs: A Doherty for D Ó Baoill (h-t), O Doherty for J McGee (41), J Brennan for N O’Donnell (53), J Mac Ceallbhuí for S O’Donnell (61).

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry).