Cork fire three goals to stun sloppy Donegal in thriller
REBEL YELL: Cork's Rory Maguire scores a goal
Loose. Careless. Open. None of the three were applicable to Donegal during the 12-game unbeaten run they carried south to Leeside. Looseness, carelessness, and openness condemned Donegal to their first competitive defeat of Jim McGuinness’ second coming.
Their conquerors celebrated a first championship victory over an Ulster outfit since overcoming Down way back in 2011. Cork’s second victory of the Sam Maguire series has them top of Group 3 and in pole position for direct progress to the All-Ireland quarter-final.
After suffering a three-in-a-row of defeats at the start of their Division 2 spring, Cork’s graph has risen steadily since. On Saturday afternoon, that same graph skyrocketed. From their last eight outings, John Cleary’s men have lost only once.
In front by 0-9 to 1-4 at the break, Donegal’s baffling spills and sloppiness reached a peak in the five minutes after half-time. Four turnovers. Cork turned them into 2-1 and a wide.
Donegal arrived on Leeside having not conceded a goal in championship 2024. They hadn't conceded a goal since March 23. Here, in front of 7,251, they had been breached three times by the 39th minute.
On 37 minutes, Peadar Mogan’s point attempt was gathered by ‘keeper Chris Kelly. Through the hands. Ian Maguire to Mark Cronin to Colm O’Callaghan to Seán Powter. Goal. Cork in front. It was Powter who had turned over the ball that led to Mogan’s shot. A very instant redemption.
A minute or so later, another Donegal turnover, another Cork goal. A messy green flag. A toe-poke was saved by Shaun Patton. It popped up beautifully for Rory Maguire. A simple palmed finish.
Another Donegal point attempt short. Aaron Doherty guilty on this occasion. Through the hands again by Cork. A converted Brian Hurley free. Cork 3-5 to 0-9 in front.
Colm O’Callaghan’s effort on 46 minutes reaffirmed that five-point gap.
Donegal’s self-inflicted wounds and Cork cutting ceased thereafter. Only one Cork point in the ensuing 22 minutes.
In the interim, Patrick McBrearty (free), Oisín Gallen (two frees), the wasteful Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, and Doherty pulled Donegal level on 67 minutes. 3-7 to 0-16.
Donegal were belatedly motoring. Cork were on the backdoor far later than had been anticipated. Donegal undid their momentum. McGonagle overcarried. Ruairi Deane to Steven Sherlock, one sub to another. Cork’s lead regained on 69 minutes.
Five minutes of injury-time. Donegal pressed. Twice they were turned over and kicked short. The latter sparked a breakaway move that Colm O’Callaghan tapped over in the sixth minute of injury-time to spark a red invasion.
In the opening half, Donegal’s set defence and protection of the scoring zone had been its typical rigid self. They shifted left and right en masse to continually lock Cork out. They continually dared their hosts to take on low-percentage efforts.
This organisation and discipline are what made their carelessness when carrying forward all the more an enigma of a Jim McGuinness-managed side.
Cork’s opener from play arrived on the quarter-hour mark. It arrived from a turnover. Brian O’Driscoll slipped to Chris Óg Jones who slipped over. There was a whiff of a green flag about the chance. In total, Cork had four first-half green flag openings. Of Cork’s first-half 1-4, 1-2 arrived from turnovers.
Their goal, on 18 minutes, had its roots in Seán Powter stripping Ryan McHigh on Cork’s 65-metre line. Powter set Mattie Taylor on this way, the half-back’s half-the-field carry concluding with a delightfully clinical finish.
Two minutes later, Paul Walsh stripped Shane O’Donnell, Jones punishing with a white flag to move the hosts into a 1-3 to 0-3 lead.
Donegal settled themselves. Greater care was applied. Ciarán Moore pointed off a Donegal restart worked meticulously. Niall O’Donnell pointed off a Cork restart sent out over the terrace sideline. McBrearty’s levelling free stemmed from a Brian Hurley effort that came down off the post.
A sweet Paul Walsh curler returned John Cleary’s side in front on 28 minutes. It was their last score of the half. Oisín Gallen and McBrearty’s fifth of the half, emanating from Powter’s second turnover of the half, had the scoreline reading 0-8 to 1-4. Cork’s protection of the scoring zone was pierced in ways not allowed at the far end.
One final episode of Donegal carelessness. O’Donnell fouled possession. Cork charged and countered. A headstrong Hurley engineered a goal shot that didn’t appear to be on. Shaun Patton produced a superb save. The rebound fell to midfielder Colm O’Callaghan. His opposite No.9, Michael Langan, shifted himself in front of the shot. Mark Cronin kicked wide the resultant 45. Cork could not afford such trips to the bank counter and leave without a meaningful withdrawal.
There were several trips made to the counter in the five minutes after half-time. The withdrawals were substantial.
For Cork, their summer has meaningful lift off. For Donegal, a reality check.
B Hurley (0-3, 0-2 frees); R Maguire, M Taylor, S Powter (1-0 each); C O’Callaghan, C Óg Jones (0-2 each); P Walsh, S Sherlock (0-1 each).
P McBrearty (0-7, 0-3 frees); O Gallen (0-3, 0-2 frees); C Moore (0-2); R McHugh, C McGonagle, N O’Donnell, A Doherty (0-1 each).
: C Kelly; K Flahive, D O’Mahony, T Walsh; M Shanley, R Maguire, M Taylor; I Maguire, C O’Callaghan; P Walsh, S Powter, B O’Driscoll; M Cronin, B Hurley, C Óg Jones.
Subs: C Corbett for Powter (44, temporary); S Sherlock for Jones (50); T Clancy for T Walsh (56 inj); R Deande for Cronin (65); E McSweeney for Hurley (69); S Meehan for Walsh (73).
: S Patton; P Mogan, B McCole, E Bán Gallagher; R McHugh, C McGonagle, C Moore; J McGee, M Langan; S O’Donnell, C Thompson, D Ó Baoill; P McBrearty, O Gallen, N O’Donnell.
Subs: A Doherty for Ó Baoill (HT); O Doherty for McGee (42); J Brennan for O’Donnell (52); J Mac Ceallbhuí for O’Donnell (61).
: B Griffin (Kerry).
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