Hat-trick for Scannell as Cork ease through

Cork 4-16 Mayo 0-6

Apart from the opening quarter when the sides were level twice, there was never a hint of an upset after Scannell crashed home his first goal on 14 minutes.

Cork, bidding for their first All-Ireland title for 11 years, were physically bigger and stronger than the Connacht champions and they completely dominated the second half scoring.

The winners scored all but four of their points from play while five of Mayo’s came from frees. Their cause wasn’t helped by the loss of corner back Michael Dooher, forced off with a shoulder injury after three minutes.

In a well balanced side, Cork had excellent players in David Twomey, Stephen Keohane and Cian O’Leary in defence. Kevin Canty and Denis O’Sullivan dominated midfield after a shaky start while apart from Scannell in attack, the performances of Andy Concannon, Colm Callanan, Colm O’Neill, and Shane Dromey were noteworthy.

Only Brendan McIntyre, David Lowther, John Ger Cafferkey and Colin Kilbane impressed for Mayo.

“Apart from the first 15 minutes we were completely on top, and there was really only one team in it throughout the second half,” said Cork mentor Jerry Walsh. “In the dressing room at half time we asked for greater effort from every player and they responded superbly to a man. It was heartening to see the type of football they played in that second half. We have certainly improved greatly on our form against Kerry in the Munster final and it augurs well for the final against Tyrone.

“We’ll make sure today’s win won’t go to the players’ heads. Potentially this is a very good team back-boned by a couple of last year’s county minors in Stephen Keohane and Kevin Canty.”

Mayo mentor, county vocational chairman Paddy Naughton, tried to put a brave face on the defeat.

“We had beaten what is regarded as a useful Galway team in the Connacht final and came down reasonably confident of giving a good account of ourselves, but we certainly didn’t expect such a thrashing.”

After Scannell slipped home his first goal in the 12th minute, the superb free taking of Andy Concannon had Cork 1-6 to 0-4 in front at the interval. All Mayo’s first-half points came from frees, with John Ger Cafferkey hitting three.

Mayo opted to thread every ball into corner forward Michael Sweeney but he was superbly contained by David Twomey.

Scannell finished a great three-man move to the net 35 seconds after the restart and by the end of the third quarter Cork had stretched their lead to 3-11 to 0-4. Mayo finally managed a point in the 51st minute - their first for 30 minutes - but it mattered little and Cork finished firmly in control, and substitute Pat McCarthy’s goal in the 61st minute put the seal on a splendid all round performance.

Scorers: Cork: D. Scannell 3-1; A. Concannon 0-4 (0-2 frees); C. O’Neill (0-1 free), S. Dromey (0-1 free) 0-3 each; P. McCarthy 1-0; K. Canty, C. Callanan 0-2 each; D. O’Sullivan 0-1. Mayo: JG Cafferkey 0-3 (frees); S. Healy 0-2 (frees); C. Kilbane 0-1.

CORK: M. O’Regan; D. Twomey, D. Lynch, J. O’Donovan; L. Hegarty, S. Keohane, C. O’Leary; K. Canty, D. O’Sullivan; A. Concannon, C. Callanan, M. O Conchuir; C. O’Neill, S. Dromey, D. Scannell. Subs. G. O’Driscoll for Twomey; P. McCarthy for Scannell; C. Quill for D. O’Sullivan; T. Murphy for M. O Conchuir; C. O’Leary for C. O’Neill.

MAYO: S. Nallen; M. Dooher, B. McIntyre, R. Corrigan; R. Carey, D. Lowther, R. O’Connor; C. Barrett, S. Forde; M. Conroy, JG Cafferkey, C. English; S. Healy, C. Kilbane, M. Sweeney. Subs. J. O’Donnell for Dooher; D. Gallagher for Barrett.

Referee: M. Ryan (Limerick).