Resilience the secret as Cork refuse to buckle

Mental fortitude. That’s their secret. Or part of it, at least.

Go back to September 2005, a time before Brendan Martin ever resided on Leeside, and, with seven minutes remaining in the All-Ireland semi-final at Portlaoise, Mayo are 1-9 to 0-8 clear of Eamonn Ryan’s side.

This is a Mayo team that has won two of the previous three All-Ireland titles and a Cork team that’s never even made a final. What transpires in the closing seven minutes at O’Moore Park — three Valerie Mulcahy frees, a Caoimhe Creedon point and Juliet Murphy’s winner 29 seconds from time edge the underdogs across the line — is the first display of the mental resilience that took Cork level with Kerry at the head of the ladies football roll of honour last Sunday.