Donegal 0-21
Cork 1-15
Fintan O’Toole reports from Croke Park
A SCORING MASTERCLASS by Patrick McBrearty inspired Donegal to a battling win over Cork in their Round 4B qualifier tie this afternoon and sets up a quarter-final showdown with Dublin next Saturday.
McBrearty bagged 0-11 – seven of those from play – and was terrific as he produced an attacking display that Cork could not cope with.
Cork only scored a single point after the 52nd minute of the game and that was a Colm O’Neill score deep in injury-time. That scoring drought proved their downfall in a game where they had began superbly and were in front 1-9 to 0-11 at the interval.
Cork’s goal arrived in the 17th minute, a strike that crowned their bright start to the game. It stemmed from a great turnover by Kevin O’Driscoll in defence, a hard-earned free won by Ian Maguire and a rampaging run by Tomás Clancy.
When the ball fell into the arms of captain Paul Kerrigan, he stepped inside at the Hill 16 end and unleashed a thunderbolt to the top corner. That strike pushed Cork ahead 1-6 to 0-4 and it reflected the good work they had done.
They had six different point scorers in that time frame – Kerrigan, Kevin and Colm O’Driscoll, Sean Powter, Donncha O’Connor and Tom Clancy (Clonakilty) – and their points came from a series of pacy moves as they found large corridors of space in the Donegal rearguard.
In contrast Donegal were reliant on McBrearty for inspiration as he kicked their entire total of four points in the opening quarter. In the second quarter, Donegal gave McBrearty more support and he also continued to torment the Cork rearguard with 0-7 to his name by the 28th minute.
Still Cork went in at half-time with a narrow advantage thanks to Donncha O’Connor’s curling point on the cusp of the interval. He played a one-two from a sideline for that score with Aidan Walsh, drafted in late in the first-half for the injured Alan O’Connor.
Cork would have been pleased with that position at the midway mark and it could have been more favourable only for Neil McGee’s brave block to deny Ian Maguire from netting in the 34th minute for what would have been his second goal in as many qualifier games.
Donegal got to grips with Cork’s attacking game in the second-half, only shipping 0-6 and only a single point after the 52nd minute of the game. The teams were still evenly matched on the scoreboard in the third quarter as they traded points.
But Cork looked to have made a decisive burst when Tomás Clancy (Fermoy) and substitute Colm O’Neill from a free pushed them in front 1-14 to 0-15 with 18 minutes of normal time remaining.
That was as good as it got for them. Donegal wiped out that lead thanks to scores from McBrearty and Eoin McHugh before frees from McBrearty and Michael Murphy nudged Rory Gallagher’s men ahead by two with five minutes left.
Their solid defensive structure frustrated Cork thereafter. The grace notes were added to this Donegal success with splendid points from Ryan McHugh and McBrearty in injury-time.
Scorers for Donegal: Patrick McBrearty 0-11 (0-4f), Ryan McHugh 0-3, Eoin McHugh, Michael Murphy (0-1f) 0-2 each, Karl Lacey, Frank McGlynn, Odhrán MacNiallais 0-1 each.
Scorers for Cork: Paul Kerrigan 1-1, Colm O’Driscoll, Tom Clancy (Clonakilty), Kevin O’Driscoll, Colm O’Neill (0-1f), Donncha O’Connor 0-2 each, Mark Collins, Tomás Clancy (Fermoy), Seán Powter, Aidan Walsh 0-1 each.
Donegal
1. Mark Anthony McGinley (St Michael’s)
2. Paddy McGrath (Ardara)
17. Eamonn McGee (Gaoth Dobhair)
3. Neil McGee (Gaoth Dobhair)
6. Karl Lacey (St Eunan’s)
15. Martin O’Reilly (Sean Mac Cumhaill)
7. Frank McGlynn (Glenfin)
8. Rory Kavanagh (St Eunan’s)
11. Odhrán Mac Niallais (Gaoth Dobhair)
5. Ryan McHugh (Kilcar)
10. Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill)
12. Eoin McHugh (Kilcar)
13. Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar)
14. Michael Murphy (Glenswilly)
9. Martin McElhinney (St Michael’s)
Subs
4. Ciaran Gillespie (Gaoth Dobhair) for Eamonn McGee (43)
19. Leo McLoone (Naomh Conaill) for Kavanagh (45)
18. Christy Toye (St Michael’s) for Thompson (55)
23. Mark McHugh (Kilcar) for McGlynn (61)
21. Eamonn Doherty (St Eunan’s) for Neil McGee (68)
Cork
1. Ryan Price (O’Donovan Rossa)
4. Stephen Cronin (Nemo Rangers)
3. Eoin Cadogan (Douglas)
18. Tom Clancy (Clonakilty)
2. Colm O Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)
25. Sean Powter (Douglas)
5. Tomás Clancy (Fermoy)
8. Alan O Connor (St Colum’s)
9. Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s)
7. Kevin O Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh)
12. Mark Collins (Castlehaven)
15. Michael Hurley (Castlehaven)
23. Donncha O’Connor (Ballydesmond)
14. Peter Kelleher (Kilmichael)
10. Paul Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers)
Subs
26. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk) for Alan O’Connor (inj) (34)
11. Patrick Kelly (Ballincollig) for Kelleher (42)
13. Colm O Neill (Ballyclough) for Donncha O’Connor (47)
6. Brian O Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaigh) for Tom Clancy (Clonakilty) (inj) (48)
24. John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers) for Kevin O’Driscoll (62)
17. Alan Cadogan (Douglas) for Powter (68)
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Look at Donegal’s path to the last 4 now look at Kerry’s….how is that fair the gas draw is laughable…can any1 name another sport Wher the draw is sooooooooo unfair
If Cork beat Tipp and Roscommon beat Clare they would have faced 2 division 1 teams but they couldn’t. That’s more division 1 teams than what the Dubs would have to face to reach the semis. Would you be b*tching then? Somehow doubt it, anyways all Donegal beat today was a Cork team turned over by Tipp!
Yawn…
OK, here is my question on the blanket defense.
In the first half, Cork were up 5 points – at that stage, why even bother attacking? As Donegal start retreating back into their half, why wouldn’t Cork just turn around, give the ball back to the goalkeeper, and literally stand still until some Donegal players are forced to come up the field to try and get the ball back – thereby more room to launch an attack.
Donegal’s system is dependent on teams trying to attack them so they can turn them over and catch them on the counter – so why do what they want you to do if you already have the lead?
I understand it would look totally bizarre to have one team refuse to attack – but at least you would be forcing Donegal (or whatever team is employing the blanket defense) to think outside of their comfort zone.
I honestly think Cork left that one behind them. They fell apart with 20 mins to go and got desperate.
worst thing that could happen was walsh to score the wonder point he did. he thought he was bullet proof then. another two or three terrible wides after that. he’s still the same as he was three years ago.
Was listening to this game on the radio, commentator said it had the pace of a challenge match, probably down to the tactics both teams adopted yet still it was very high scoring. Fair play to the Cork team who played a lot better than expected, Donegal’s McBrearty though was on fire and if he can repeat his heroics from today they will cause Dublin problems next Saturday however I think the match will come too soon for them and if Dublin get into a high tempo rhythm they should beat them.
Cork players battling fitness again this season. Lot of the players carrying a bit too much weight.
Agree Fiachra, but I think you could say that about some of the Donegal players as well.
Donegal will be a challenge for Dublin!!!
As a Donegal man I really don’t think we will. A quality forward line would have destroyed Donegal today. Having said that it was played at league pace by both teams for the first hour.
Donegal won’t survive v dubs too many quality players to mark the blanket won’t work because we just score long range points over the top of it with connolly the magician
Kelvin,
Yeah, that approached worked in 2014, for about exactly 28 minutes.
OK, here is my question on the blanket defense.
In the first half, Cork were up 5 points – at that stage, why even bother attacking? As Donegal start retreating back into their half, why wouldn’t Cork just turn around, give the ball back to the goalkeeper, and literally stand still until some Donegal players are forced to come up the field to try and get the ball back – thereby more room to launch an attack.
Donegal’s system is dependent on teams trying to attack them so they can turn them over and catch them on the counter – so why do what they want you to do if you already have the lead?
I understand it would look totally bizarre to have one team refuse to attack – but at least you would be forcing Donegal (or whatever team is employing the blanket defense) to think outside of their comfort zone.
Players trying to keep possession in or around their own goal will inevitably make mistakes leading to goal chances as opposed to making mistakes out the field leading to point chances.
Well it doesn’t have to be exactly in their goal mouth – if the losing team is retreating into its own half to employ a blanket defense, then they are allowing the team that is winning an entire half of the field to play “keep away”.
I get what you are saying about teams worrying about mistakes, but lets say Cork today kept 9 players back in their own half as Donegal retreated. How many players would Donegal have to send forward to stop Cork playing “keep away” in their own half – in other words, to try and force a mistake from a Cork player – maybe 5 or 6? But then that makes space up the field to attack.
I suppose what I am saying is that even though they had the lead today, Cork still allowed Donegal to dictate how the game was played by continually attacking the blanket defense. But if Cork had refused to come forward, then that would have forced Donegal to react and do something differently, and in some ways would have allowed Cork to dictate the game.
Dublin be afraid be very afraid
Dubs have no fear, this is when they reach 5th gear.
Oh the dubs can’t wait finally a challenge they will relish it
I don’t think Michael Murphy thinks he is above the law at all? If anything he’s roughed up more than any player.
Dubs will beat them handy
Cut off supply line to McBrearty and take points from 35/40 yrds thats what the dubs need to do
On paper that makes sense but it didn’t work so well in the semi final in 2014 did it? That saying; I think Dublin will turn us over this time around!
I think that the dubs learned from that experience Kevin, hopefully Cian O’Sullivan will shore up the half back line that allowed a void between it and the full back line in 2014 and James McCarthy is fit.
Cork are a long way from Thurles qualifier v Kildare this time last yr. Makings of a good team there now. Powter, Kelleher, Maguire will be great players for the county. Aidan Walsh proved everybody right today by his performance. He is a natural footballing athlete. Himself n Maguire will be a corner Stone for cork football moving forward. If he sticks at it he will have Gud days in the ‘big house’ again. If he goes for d smaller ball, then im not so sure. Game was there for d taking today,, but as sum1 who witnessed d League turnover v Rosscommon, we r def on d road back #CorkFootball #Hope4DFuture
there must’ve been two walshs on the pitch. I thought he was atrocious.
Sign him up, Wenger.
A march to highlight the case of missing Donegal child Mary Boyle was held in Dublin city centre on Saturday afternoon ~
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/dublin-hosts-march-for-missing-schoolgirl-mary-boyle-1.2740709
A march to Fianna Fail HQ
Gaa draw..
Was that macbreatry second black of the year
Doesn’t matter you need 3 for a ban
Wasn’t sure was it 2 or 3 but they shouldn’t have Murphy for the next day if the proper rules are used in anyone’s game a strike to the head is a red
Will it be raised by the ccc
It should be, he is a great footballer but feels he can throw his weight around now with out any sanctions
Wise up
Sign him up, Wenger