It was Cork against Donegal in the first of this year’s All-Ireland SFC semi-finals today with throw-in at 3.30pm.
We were keeping an eye on all the action from Croke Park.
Send us your thoughts and comments on today’s action. E-mail fintan@thescore.ie, tweet us@thescore_ie, find us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
RESULT: Donegal 0-16 Cork 1-11
Welcome to Croke Park as we get set for the clash of Cork and Donegal in the first of this year’s All-Ireland senior football semi-finals. The minor match has finished and we’re awaiting the teams arrivals to being their warm-ups.
Here’s all you need to know about today’s game.
There’s a lot of speculation that there will be changes in the Cork team with Pearse O’Neill, Daniel Goulding, Ciaran Sheehan and Jamie O’Sullivan being touted for inclusion. There is likely to be alterations from the side announced during the week.
We’ll have the confirmed side when we get it but first of all here’s the Donegal line-up. Neil Gallagher comes in for Martin McElhinney in the only change to the team that defeated Kerry.
DONEGAL: Paul Durcan (Four Masters); Paddy McGrath (Ardara), Neil McGee (Gweedore), Frank McGlynn (Glenfin); Eamonn McGee (Gweedore), Karl Lacey (Four Masters), Anthony Thompson (Naomh Conaill); Neil Gallagher (Glenswilly), Rory Kavanagh (St Eunan’s); Ryan Bradley (Buncrana), Leo McLoone (Naomh Conaill), Mark McHugh (Kilcar); Patrick McBrearty (Kilcar), Michael Murphy (Glenswilly), Colm McFadden (St Michael’s).
The two teams have just come out onto the field and are in the middle of their warm-ups. There was a noticeable difference in the crowd reactions with Donegal clearly outnumbering Cork in the supporter stakes and that has been noticeable from early morning around Dublin.
Here are the Cork substitutes as per the match programme but some of these players may yet start.
CORK: 16. Ken O’Halloran (Bishopstown), 17. Eoin Cotter (Douglas), 18. Jamie O’Sullivan (Bishopstown), 19. Daniel Goulding (Éire Óg), 20. Pearse O’Neill (Aghada), 21. Ciaran Sheehan (Éire Óg), 22. Mark Collins (Castlehaven), 23. Denis O’Sullivan (Ballinascarthy), 24. Liam Shorten (Ballingeary), 25. Barry O’Driscoll (Nemo Rangers), 26. James Fitzpatrick (Carbery Rangers), 27. Sean Kiely (Macroom).
And here is the list of Donegal substitutes.
DONEGAL: 16. Michael Boyle (Termon), 17. Martin McElhinney (St Michael’s), 18. Marty Boyle (Naomh Conaill), 19. David Walsh (St Brigid’s), 20. Christy Toye (St Michael’s), 21. Stephen Griffin (St Naul’s), 22. Daniel McLaughlin (St Michael’s), 23. Martin O’Reilly (MacCumhaill’s), 24. Dermot Molloy (Naomh Conaill), 25. Declan Walsh (Malin), 26. Adrian Hanlon (Dungloe).
It’s going to fascinating to see hot this tactical battle unfolds, particularly how Cork cope with Donegal’s defensive system. Will they go man to man on Mark McHugh or allow him to act as a sweeper? TheScore.ie’s football analyst and former Down All-Ireland winner Conor Deegan feels this is a key issue. You can read his pre-match thoughts here.
The Cork team has just been announced over the public address. The changes are Daniel Goulding and Ciaran Sheehan in for Ray Carey and Nicholas Murphy.
This is how Cork will line up.
CORK SF: 1. Alan Quirke (Valley Rovers); 7. Noel O’Leary (Cill na Martra), 3. Michael Shields (St Finbars), 4. Eoin Cadogan (Douglas); 5. Paudie Kissane (Clyda Rovers), 6. Graham Canty (Bantry Blues), 10. Fintan Goold (Macroom); 8. Alan O’Connor (St. Colum’s), 9. Aidan Walsh (Kanturk); 21. Ciaran Sheehan (Éire Óg), 11. Patrick Kelly (Ballincollig), 12. Paul Kerrigan (Nemo Rangers); 13. Colm O Neill (Ballyclough), 14. Donncha O’Connor (Ballydesmond), 19. Daniel Goulding (Éire Óg).
That means Fintan Goold is named at wing-back but likely to be detailed to follow Mark McHugh. Brilliant atmosphere here, the teams are currently marching around the pitch behind the Artane Boys Band.
Paul Kerrigan and Donncha O’Connor have swapped positions in the Cork attack. Fintan Goold is marking Mark McHugh.
Donegal 0-1 Cork 0-0: 2 mins – First blood to the Ulster champions. Michael Murphy points a close-range free after he was fouled by Eoin Cadogan.
And Fintan Goold also misses from a good scoring position for Cork, who are playing into the Hill 16 goal.
Donegal 0-1 Cork 0-1: 6 mins – Cork draw level through Paul Kerrigan after excellent support running creates the chance.
Cork 0-2 Donegal 0-1: 8 mins – Cork move ahead through Patrick Kelly, now marking Mark McHugh, as he curls over a shot from the left-hand side of the goal.
Cork 0-2 Donegal 0-2: 9 mins – The teams are level as Colm McFadden converts a free after Patrick McBrearty displays brilliant ball-carrying abilities and skill to make headway before he is hauled down.
Donegal 0-3 Cork 0-2: 11 mins – Donegal edge in front with McFadden scoring their first point from play after Michael Murphy caught a long ball and offloaded. Cork felt they should have been awarded a free at the other end for a foul on Fintan Goold.
Cork 0-3 Donegal 0-3: 13 mins – Again the teams are tied on the scoreboard with Cork’s Daniel Goulding notching a point from a free after Donncha O’Connor is fouled.
Patrick Kelly strikes a wide for Cork as they probed the Donegal defence for an opening.
Donegal 0-4 Cork 0-4: 19 mins – Michael Murphy nudges Donegal in front after Noel O’Leary fouled Patrick McBrearty and a free was awarded. But Cork respond instantly with Ciaran Sheehan fisting the ball between the posts to draw level.
Good chance for Cork to move ahead as they counter-attack at speed after a brilliant turnover by Paudie Kissane on Leo McLoone but Colm O’Neill is off target.
Donegal 0-5 Cork 0-5: 24 mins – Rory Kavanagh bursts onto the ball after a loose pass by Eoin Cadogan and fires over a shot to send Donegal into the lead. But again Cork’s response is quick and decisive with Colm O’Neill striking his first point and becoming the fifth Cork forward to raise a white flag in this game.
Cork 0-6 Donegal 0-6: 27 mins – Cork hit the front. A brilliant run by Paul Kerrigan, assured decision-making by Daniel Goulding and a superb right-foot shot by Colm O’Neill secures the point. However Donegal bounce back immediately with a neat score by Karl Lacey.
Cork 0-7 Donegal 0-6: 28 mins – That’s an excellent point by Ciaran Sheehan, his second of the game. He was at the heart of the move originally in collecting a short free from Michael Shields and finished off the move when Donncha O’Connor transferred the ball to him. Donegal substitution sees David Walsh in for Ryan Bradley.
Cork 0-7 Donegal 0-7: 31 mins – And Walsh makes an immediate impact for Donegal as he taps over a point.
Donegal 0-8 Cork 0-7: 34 mins – Donegal edge ahead after great play by Leo McLoone and Karl Lacey culminates in Mark McHugh fisting over a point.
HALF-TIME: Donegal 0-8 Cork 0-7: That’s how the half finishes with Donegal just in front but Michael Murphy spurned a chance to send them two points clear just on the stroke of half-time. A fascinating battle so far and it’s as tightly contested as we imagined. We’ll be back shortly with the second-half action but before that here are the first-half scorers.
DONEGAL: Michael Murphy (0-2f), Colm McFadden (0-1f) 0-2 each, Karl Lacey, Rory Kavanagh, Mark McHugh, David Walsh 0-1 each.
CORK: Ciaran Sheehan, Colm O’Neill 0-2 each, Patrick Kelly, Paul Kerrigan, Daniel Goulding (0-1f) 0-1 each.
Pearse O’Neill is onto the Cork team for the second-half instead of Fintan Goold.
The attendance has been confirmed as 55,169. I suspect over 40,000 of those fans are from Donegal.
Pearse O’Neill looks like he will start at centre-forward with Patrick Kelly nominally a half-back. Cork are out on the field and now Donegal are back out for the second half.
Yellow card for Donegal’s Colm McFadden after a high tackle on Canty. Paul Kerrigan snatches at a scoring chance and kicks another Cork wide.
Donegal 0-9 Cork 0-7: 39 mins – Superb left-footed point by Colm McFadden from distance stretches Donegal’s lead to two points. Cork’s Aidan Walsh has just been booked for an earlier challenge on David Walsh.
Donegal 0-10 Cork 0-7: 41 mins – That’s an inspirational point for Donegal as Frank McGlynn picks up a wayward pass by Aidan Walsh, charges forward and scores off his left.
Donegal 0-11 Cork 0-7: 43 mins – What a start to the second-half by Donegal. Karl Lacey kicks a point, their third without reply and they are four ahead. Their supporters are in full voice here in Croke Park.
Donegal 0-12 Cork 0-8: 44 mins – A vital point for Cork through Aidan Walsh as he splits the posts from distance. They badly needed that score. But Donegal reply when Anthony Thompson scores a point after Rory Kavanagh nearly found the net but for a superb dispossession by Michael Shields.
Huge goal chance for Cork but Colm O’Neill’s well-struck shot off his right hits the bar. That could be pivotal.
Donegal 0-12 Cork 0-9: 48 mins – Cork are hanging in there with Ciaran Sheehan swinging over a lovely point. Denis O’Sullivan is on for the Rebels instead of Alan O’Connor.
Donegal 0-13 Cork 0-9: 51 mins – Colm McFadden extends Donegal’s lead with a free after Michael Murphy was fouled.
Colm McFadden and Patrick McBrearty both waste chances to stretch Donegal’s advantage.
Donegal 0-14 Cork 0-9: 54 mins – That’s an outstanding free by Michael Murphy, lashed over the bar from 50 yards. Donegal look to be in control here.
Donegal 0-14 Cork 0-10: 56 mins – Excellent point by Paul Kerrigan from 45 yards for Cork cuts the deficit.
Donegal 0-15 Cork 0-10: 58 mins – Donegal are back in front by five points with Colm McFadden doing brilliantly to convert a ’45. Martin McElhinney is on for the Ulster champions for Rory Kavanagh.
It looks like Cork will need a goal to haul Donegal back now. That Colm O’Neill shot that hit the bar was their best opportunity and could have a major bearing on this match.
Donegal are not confirming their superiority with Martin McElhinney and Anthony Thompson both wasting good opportunities to score.
Donegal 0-15 Cork 0-11: 65 mins – Is there hope for Cork yet? Colm O’Neill points to trim the margin to four.
Donegal 0-16 Cork 0-11: 67 mins – Are Donegal getting set for their first All-Ireland final appearance since 1992? A point by Martin McElhinney suggests they may be as he converts off his right.
Donegal 0-16 Cork 1-11: 72 mins – Goal for Cork! Colm O’Neill finds the net but it may be too late.
Christy Toye and Daniel McLaughlin are on the Donegal team for Patrick McBrearty and Colm McFadden.
Poor form by Cork ‘fans’ – outnumbered by about 8 to 1. Prob waiting for final, they could be in for a nasty shock! Come on Donegal !
Fair play donegal well deserved. We’ll be back next year. Rebels Abu
As a Dublin fan ,, think it’s going to be donegals day
Well Done Donegal :). Lets hope Mayo beat the Dubs to make it a Donegal Vs Mayo final
Sad when you have to depend on other counties to beat Dublin.
i love an ulster team in the all ireland final.pitty its not derry.but donegal deserve to be there.donegal for sam!!!
Come on Donegal you can do it
All I can say is up Donegal Donegal for sam
If Donegal can improve their accuracy they will be unbeatable in the final. They should have won today by at least 10 points and I wasn’t at all surprised as this Cork team have been hugely over-rated.
shows how much you know really,ten points?? what bout corks wides???
This cork team have a lot of mileage on the clock. 4 leagues and 1 all Ireland and you call them over rated? Stick to the premiership mate.
Aww Alan do I sense bitterness. Nobody remembers who wins National Leagues and the all Ireland win was against an average Down team. I follow Premiership but also GAA so less of the cheap shots please ..
Neil look at Alan’s first comment doesn’t look like sour grapes to me. First Cork person to come on an congratulate Donegal
well done donegal.. brilliant game..
C’mon Donegal!!! Dún Na nGall Abu!
Well less of the anti cork bile so Neil. No bitterness here mate. Don’t begrudge donegal their victory in the slightest.
Alan there’s no anti Cork bile here whatsoever. I just gave my opinion on the Cork football team. If u disagree -fine, but one’s expressing a view on how good/bad a team is shouldn’t be construed as bile.
If donegal win the all Ireland it will be the best all Ireland ever won having to come from preliminary round in ulster beating the likes of Tyrone Kerry cork and whoever wins next week between dublin and mayo
Neil you know cork have a hurling team to follow as well. It gets expensive to travel up to Dublin or wherever every week. As for cork being over rated. Wake up n smell the coffee. Beaten by a better team on the day. But over rated I think not
donegal is a football only county and its not often they get the chance to get to an all ireland semi, i think that explains it genius! west cork is football country here, im east cork and dublin is 3 hours away, far west cork is also 3 hours away for me
In fairness, although donegal doesn’t have much in the way of hurling to contend with, it’s a fairly big soccer county, at best equal to the gaelic football.
I can’t see a Moran-less Mayo or this year’s Dublin beating Donegal on this kind of form.
Crikey, when that goal went in, I thought I had jinxed them! Congrats Donegal, not always been smitten with the style of play, but I’m delighted for Donegal people, lovely folk. Good luck in the final.
Well done Donegal! Beaten by the better team :”(
Why does everyone keep saying that Donegal play puke football? What does that mean?
It was term created by Pat Spillane on the Sunday Game some years ago to describe Tyrone’s tactics of three of their players attacking one player in possession of the ball. It led to a very poor spectacle. Donegal were probably guilty of this last year but in fairness they’re playing some entertaining football today.
It’d be the GAA version of the puke football Chelsea played in the Champions League last season.
Got result but wouldn’t like to have paid any money to watch it
Having said that I’ll be shouting for Donegal
Well done Donegal, delighted to see De Rebels sent home !
Canty and co can join the gooch on the sauce til January!
Neil cork is a duel county. Expensive to support both teams. The football heartland is west cork which can be a 5 to 6 hour drive to dublin. It’s plain as day you’ve a bee in your bonnet when it comes to cork!
Donegal’s not exactly around the corner from croker either
Was working in a bar in Donegal during the game. Great atmosphere. Well done boys. Cork ye had our hearts in our mouths for a while. Fair dues to them too! Great game.
It’s like watching cross country basket ball. 30mins. Cork 100 hand passes
Stick to the cycling !!
Time to do something about the hand pass, maybe even ban it out right.
Neil your such a troll!! stop lookin for attention.. yeah cork have a large population but football here is primarily supported in WEST cork and the hurlers are way more supported, read the papers if ya dont believe cos i dont you were ever in this county.. by the way cork are not over rated, we’ve got to the latter stages consistently for years and won the league 4 years in a row, bad teams dont do that! over to you now mate, i look forward to your petty reply
Barry I have been in Cork – lived in Cork city for 3 yrs and enjoyed it, so I know about where football/hurling have their fanbases in the county. I never said that the Cork team were bad, so please mate don’t say that I did. PS I’m not trolling/seeking attention, just making points that u or anyone else will either agree or disagree with.
Where is Diarmaid Twomey, big ball, small ball ?
Tis awful sad, it tis, it tis, it tis, and they shat themselves too, they did, they did, they did, shit everywhere, thats rite, thats rite, thats rite, shit all over da place, thats rite, thats rite, thats rite!
Donegal for Sam!
Was thinking that myself, he’s usually so forthcoming with his expert analysis.
Neil you’ve had a cut off our “fans” and then belittled the teams achievements, I’ll say no more on the matter.
Alan there were 55,000 at the match and over 40k of them were supporting Donegal. Fair play to the Cork people who were there, but for a county with such a big population such a small show was poor. The teams achievements are exaggerated and I re-iterate this is not bile.
To be fair to the cork fans, they had hurling to contend with too, safe to say the rebel army spent more money on the GAA than any other again this year… It’s €80 quid just to get to Dublin like, before a ticket or a pint is bought!
A proud cork man in Stockholm
He’s gone very quiet this evening – hope he’s ok…
1850 60 90 90. The Samaritans are there to listen.
Well done Donegal. Great game. Deserved win. Now can I say ‘COME ON THE DUBS!
Go Donegal all the way! Hope it is Donegal and Mayo in the final. My friend Msg. Mike Coyne would like that! Manus Mc Gettigan From Lettermacaward
why would we want to travel all the way to dublin and pay good money to watch our team play against frustrating vomit like that, that’s not football the fact that the manager was so talked about proves how awful things are! donegal should send the same 15 into the heineken cup im sure they’d win it..
Maybe not pleasing in the eye but effective. The cork/Kerry’s of this world are going to have to adapt quickly or we’ll be left behind
@Alan Spot on, unfortunately. I thought that Kerry had been very poor in the quarter final & that Cork would have the necessary fire power to beat Donegal today. I now realise that I wasn’t giving Donegal the credit they deserved!
Same old bitter Spillane-type nonsense. Absolutely nothing negative or puke about that win yesterday. Fair play Donegal
Yes neil…Donegal have won nothing yet!
First off well done donegal and to all their fans i hope yer enjoying the summer so far its been a great one for ye! Although i might not agree with the way they play its unfair on their fans to come on here and slag them off theyve beem gret this summer and have travelled in numbers to support their team. Lets hope tht mayo do the dubs so we’re gauranteed to have a fifth different winner in a row… Ourselves and our neighbours from cork will be back next year!!!
theres still the sentiment in football that should be respected, the donegal fans wouldnt care less how they win it but the purist counties wouldnt take satisfaction in playing like that regardless if they win because they remember they’ve won in a more attractive style in the past.. it’ll be bad for the future of the game if donegal win, who here will watch football again if all 32 counties play like that in years to come?