MAYO ARE THROUGH to the All-Ireland semi-finals after they beat current champions Cork 1-13 to 2-06 in a brilliant second half performance on Sunday at Croke Park.
James Horan’s side showed phenomenal reserves of pace and power to end the Rebels’ reign, with a solitary second half point from John Miskella all Cork had to show as they meekly gave up their title.
The match had started so differently. Donncha O’Connor slotted in an early penalty before further scores from Fintan Goold and Paul Kerrigan helped them to a 1-04 to 0-01 lead.
Points from Kevin McLoughlin and Cillian O’Connor hinted at the fightback to come from Mayo, with a goal from the former reducing the arrears to a point, but Cork extended their lead when Kerrigan got on the end of a Fiachra Lynch punch to score his side’s second goal of the game.
Cork led 2-05 to 1-06 at half-time but Horan’s side emerged with renewed purpose. Aidan O’Shea was a phenomenon in midfield while the defence of Trevor Mortimer, Ger Cafferkey and Keith Higgins held firm.
Mayo’s seven scores were answered by just a single Cork point, and the Munster side’s misery was compounded late in the game when Miskella saw red for an off-the-ball offence.
In Sunday’s earlier game, Kerry were never troubled as they easily beat Limerick 1-20 to 0-10.
We were awful, fair play to Mayo, best of luck from Cork in the next round.
C’MON MAYO!!!
A magnanimous Corkman? Sacre bleu!
Just stating a fact, the team didn’t have a good day. Every team has bad days, doesn’t make them a bad team, makes them human. We’ll be back and hungrier than ever, roll on 2012!