Horan: Hard work was the bedrock for win

Mayo manager James Horan hailed his side's workmanlike performance which led to them ousting reigning All-Ireland champions Cork at Croke Park this afternoon.

There were many heroes on the pitch for Mayo, including industrious midfielder Aidan O'Shea, free-taker Cillian O'Connor and the tireless Keith Higgins and Trevor Mortimer in defence.

The Connacht champions held Cork to just one point in the second half as they emerged as 1-13 to 2-6 winners and set up a semi-final clash with Kerry.

Speaking afterwards, Horan said: "We are delighted with the win. Our aim today was to come up here and play as good as we can and work as hard as we could.

"Ultimately we outworked and outfought the opposition. That's what was the bedrock of the game, so we're delighted with the game and looking forward to moving on to the next day."

Mayo needed extra-time to beat London in their Connacht SFC opener, but today they delivered arguably the best team display of the entire summer.

Horan's charges were rank outsiders heading into this encounter, with poor Connacht form placing them as 5/1 outsiders with the bookmakers.

However, Mayo's provincial clashes with Galway and Roscommon were played in poor weather conditions, something which Horan says cannot be discounted.

"The games in Connacht weren't great to watch but the conditions were terrible. I suppose we knew what we were capable of as a team," he insisted.

"From what we do at training - four or five training sessions every week - for the last seven or eight months, we have been building all year.

"Yeah, we have played some poor games but we have got through every single one of them and kept building in every single one of the games, which is what we were trying to do."

But he knows that his side will have to find even more if they are to get the better of All-Ireland favourites Kerry in three weeks' time.

"Today was our best performance of the year to date but we know we need to go another step if we are to progress any further.

"We are looking forward to challenge and getting down to our recovery session tomorrow, training on Tuesday night and building up for the semi-final."