Football · Ballybofey
Six two-pointers power Cork to stunning comeback win over Donegal in All-Ireland SFC
Steven Sherlock landed four two-pointers as Cork overturned a seven-point second-half deficit to beat All-Ireland favourites Donegal 0-17 to 1-13 at MacCumhaill Park and book a quarter-final place.
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In brief
Cork hit six scores from outside the arc, four from Steven Sherlock, to overturn a seven-point deficit and stun Donegal.
The hosts were held to just six second-half points and failed to raise an orange flag from play as Cork’s possession game took hold.
The victory sends Cork into the last eight of the All-Ireland SFC, while Donegal drop into a must-win round-three clash.
- 13 JunTwo-pointers from Luke Fahy and Tommy Walsh put Cork in front for the first time.
- 13 JunSteven Sherlock lands the winning two-point free.
- 13 JunFull-time: Cork 0-17, Donegal 1-13.
The ambush in Ballybofey
Cork delivered the performance of the championship so far, stunning Donegal on their home patch. The bookies’ long-odds outsiders were five points adrift at half-time and trailed by seven early in the second period before a barrage of two-pointers turned the tie. By full-time the Rebel County had registered six scores from outside the arc, four of them from Steven Sherlock, who finished with 0-9.
First-half control for Donegal
Donegal looked to be cruising when Michael Murphy turned over a short kick-out, raced in on goal and squared for Conor O’Donnell to palm into an empty net. Oisin Gallen kicked three quick points and Murphy added a free, helping the hosts to a 1-7 to 0-5 interval lead. A second goal was only denied by Cork goalkeeper Patrick Doyle’s save from Murphy’s palmed effort.
Sherlock sparks the revival
After Donegal stretched the gap to seven through Oisin Gallen and Michael Langan, Cork began to chip away. Sherlock landed a two-point free, substitute Conor Corbett scored with his first touch, and the lead was down to three with 15 minutes remaining. Two-pointers in quick succession from Luke Fahy and Tommy Walsh then gave Cork the lead for the first time with nine minutes left.
“We just kept believing. The plan was to keep the ball and wait for our moments.”
Sealing the quarter-final spot
Donegal briefly levelled through Jason McGee, but another Sherlock two-point free proved the winner. Turlough Carr’s late point was insufficient for the hosts, who managed only six second-half scores and no orange flag from play. The victory makes Cork the first team into the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals.
“We had a method. If we had the ball they couldn’t hurt us. The lads executed it perfectly.”
What it means for Donegal
Jim McGuinness’s side suffered a second home championship defeat of the season, having also lost to Down in Letterkenny in April. They must regroup for a round-three fixture next week, while Cork advance with momentum. The sellout crowd at the renovated MacCumhaill Park witnessed a contest that will reshape the All-Ireland narrative.
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Sources and context
- Steven Sherlock
- Cork forward, scored 0-9 including four two-pointers
- John Cleary
- Cork senior football manager
- Michael Murphy
- Donegal forward, provided assist for Conor O'Donnell goal
- Conor O'Donnell
- Donegal forward, scored the team's only goal
- Luke Fahy
- Cork half-back, landed a crucial second-half two-pointer
- Tommy Walsh
- Cork midfielder, kicked a two-pointer to give Cork the lead
- Oisin Gallen
- Donegal forward, scored three points in the first half
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