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LAST UPDATE | 27 Jun
MAYO’S ATTACKING STARS shone when their county’s need was greatest to propel them to victory in this All-Ireland quarter-final.
Darragh Beirne, Ryan O’Donoghue, and Kobe McDonald shared 0-19 between them on the scoreboard, a return that was central to Mayo’s ability to overcome Cork and book a date on the last four weekend for the first time since 2021.
It was a significant success for Andy Moran’s side. They retreated at the break, level on the scoreboard, shipped the opening point of the second half to Chris Óg Jones, and then took charge. Beirne stepped up to hit two terrific shots, raising an orange flag from a free and from play. Suddenly Mayo were 0-14 to 0-10 clear by the 41st minute and protected that position until the finish.
Cork kept charging at them and came close on a couple of occasions, behind 0-15 to 0-14 entering the final quarter and 0-20 to 0-17 adrift with seven minutes left. Turnovers of possession proved costly however, from one such intercept Mayo countered downfield and Jack Carney swung over a two-pointer in the 55th minute, pushing his team four points clear.
In the finale Cork got sight of Mayo’s goal but when Brian O’Driscoll unleashed a blistering drive, Jack Livingstone’s shot-stopping heroics came to Mayo’s rescue as he got a hand out to beat the ball away. Mayo were three clear at that juncture and outscored Cork 0-3 to 0-1 from there to the end. Livingstone had also intervened tellingly earlier in the game, diverting a shot away for a ’45 that Chris Óg Jones had slotted in the direction of the bottom corner of the net.
The opening period was a cagey affair that struggled to ignite. The teams were deadlocked, 0-9 apiece, at the interval, a position that would have sparked regret in the Cork camp. They amassed eight wides in that opening half, missing chances from favourable positions, and didn’t translate their superiority under the Mayo kick out into a scoreboard lead at the midway mark.
Cork were 0-7 to 0-4 clear by the 24th minute, yet Mayo dragged themselves level. McDonald supplied a moment of magic to smash over a two-pointer from play and O’Donoghue knocked over a free on the stroke of half-time that saw an orange flag raised.
Mayo had posted the opening two points of the game and edged ahead 0-3 to 0-2 after 12 minutes, but from there Cork took charge for a spell. Mark Cronin banged over a two-pointer free, while the other scores ranged from various sources as Ian Maguire, Steven Sherlock and Paul Walsh all contributed. Mayo had only three first-half scorers, yet it was telling that it was their influential trio of McDonald, O’Donoghue and Beirne that were all impacting in that aspect of the game.
That theme would become more dominant as the game unfolded. O’Donoghue kept the scoreboard ticking over for Mayo after Beirne had provided the impetus early in the second half. In the closing stages McDonald barrelled and fired in a shot with designs on reaching the net, but Cork scrambled in defence to block.
It didn’t alter the outcome. Sherlock finished with 0-7 for Cork, but Mayo largely coped with the offensive unit they faced and prevented the concession of two-pointers to a team that had thrived on them in previous wins against Meath and Donegal.
Cork’s season culminates with a last eight exit, Mayo head towards a semi-final test in a fortnight.
Scorers for Mayo: Ryan O’Donoghue 0-8 (0-2 frees, 1 2pt free), Darragh Beirne 0-7 (1 2pt play, 1 2pt free), Kobe McDonald 0-4 (1 2pt play), Jack Carney 0-2 (1 2pt play), Tommy Conroy 0-1, Conor Loftus 0-1.
Scorers for Cork: Steven Sherlock 0-7 (1 2pt free, 0-1 ’45, 0-1 free), Paul Walsh 0-3, Mark Cronin 0-2 (1 2pt free), Chris Óg Jones 0-2, Ian Maguire 0-1, Colm O’Callaghan 0-1, Rory Maguire 0-1, Brian Hurley 0-1.
1. Jack Livingstone (Breaffy)
2. Jack Coyne (Ballyhaunis – captain), 3. Donnacha McHugh (Castlebar Mitchels), 4. Eoin McGreal (Garrymore)
5. Sam Callinan (Ballina Stephenites), 6. David McBrien (Ballaghaderreen), 7. Enda Hession (Garrymore)
8. Bob Tuohy (Castlebar Mitchels), 9. Jack Carney (Kilmeena)
10. Stephen Coen (Hollymount/Carramore), 23. Paul Towey (Charlestown Sarsfields), 12. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina Deel Rovers)
13. Darragh Beirne (Claremorris), 14. Ryan O’Donoghue (Belmullet), 15. Kobe McDonald (Crossmolina Deel Rovers)
Subs
1. Patrick Doyle (Knocknagree)
2. Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty), 3. Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree), 4. Seán Meehan (Kiskeam)
5. Brian O’Driscoll (Carrigaline), 6. Tommy Walsh (Kanturk), 19. Rory Maguire (Castlehaven)
8. Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s), 9. Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg)
10. Paul Walsh (Kanturk), 11. Dara Sheedy (Bantry Blues), 12. Seán McDonnell (Mallow)
13. Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers), 14. Chris Óg Jones (Uíbh Laoire), 15. Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s)
Subs
*****
Written by Fintan O’Toole and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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