Cork fight back to stun Donegal and reach quarter-finals

Cork staged a stirring second-half comeback to stun Donegal and book their place in the last eight of the All-Ireland SFC with a 0-17 to 1-13 win at MacCumhaill Park.

John Cleary's side looked out of the game early in the second half, but six two-pointers - including four from Steven Sherlock who finished with 0-9 - sealed a famous comeback win for the Rebel County.

Conor O'Donnell scored the goal for Donegal, who led 1-7 to 0-5 at the break and improved the advantage to seven points before Cork fought back.

While Cork become the first team to reach the quarter-finals, Donegal will be back in action in round three next week.

It is Donegal's second home loss in this year's championship after their Ulster SFC quarter-final defeat by Down in Letterkenny in April.

Jim McGuinness made two changes to the team that beat All-Ireland champions Kerry in Killarney three weeks ago as Donegal returned to the newly resurfaced MacCumhaill Park.

Shaun Patton returned between the sticks as Gavin Mulreany dropped to the bench, while Shane O'Donnell replaced Max Campbell in the half-forward line.

Cork - who flew into Derry before travelling to Ballybofey - were without influential midfielder Colm O'Callaghan, who was suspended after his red card in their round one win over Meath at Pairc Ui Rinn.

After a slow start to the game, Donegal led 0-5 to 0-1 after 13 minutes without having to expend too much energy.

Ryan McHugh and Dara Sheedy exchanged early scores, before the Tir Chonaill men rattled off four scores without reply.

Michael Murphy clipped over a free before two from Oisin Gallen and another from Shane O'Donnell.

Steven Sherlock tried to haul Cork back into the game, landing a two-pointer with his first shot on goal, before missing a routine free from outside the arc for a player of his calibre.

The Tir Chonaill punished that error with scores Gallen and Michael Langan before landing a major as O'Donnell fisted the ball into the net after Murphy pounced on a mistake from Cork's Tommy Walsh.

It could have been worse for the visitors as Sean Meehan caught Murphy's punched effort on the goal-line from the next attack.

After Sherlock landed his second two-pointer of the game, ending a barren spell of 17 minutes, Donegal led by five points at the break.

There was an ominous feel to the start of the second half as the home side kept the ball for over four minutes before Murphy shot over the bar, with Langan and Gallen further stretching the lead to seven.

But just as the game appeared to be slipping away from the Leesiders, Sherlock landed his third two-pointer, quickly followed by a score from Conor Corbett with his first touch after coming on to the field.

Peadar Mogan and Sherlock exchanged scores to leave three between the sides entering into the final quarter.

Cork, though, were in danger of being the masters of their own downfall. Sherlock left a two-point free short before Brian O'Driscoll blasted a gilt-edged goal chance wide.

Cork are renowned for their two-point scores, though, and landed two in quick succession, first from Luke Fahy off the outside of his right, before a monstrous kick from Sean Walsh give the visitors the lead for the first time with seven minutes left.

McGee levelled right away for Donegal, before Sherlock landed another two-point free - Cork's sixth orange flag - to give his side a two-point lead with five to go.

Donegal raced against the clock and needed a two-point score but Turlough Carr landed a one-pointer on the hooter as Cork claimed a famous win.

Cork now have a week's break ahead of the All-Ireland quarter-finals, while Donegal head for round three, where they will face one of the winners of this weekend's round 2B fixtures.

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan (0-1); Ryan McHugh (0-1), Caolan McGonagle, Finnbarr Roarty; Jason McGee (0-1), Hugh McFadden; Shane O'Donnell (0-1), Michael Langan (0-2), Ciaran Moore; Conor O'Donnell (1-0), Michael Murphy (0-2, 1f), Oisin Gallen (0-4).

Subs: Caolan McColgan for R McHugh (55), Daire O Baoill for S O'Donnell (55), Turlough Carr (0-1) for C O'Donnell (60), Shea Malone for O Gallen (65)

Cork: Patrick Doyle; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O'Mahony, Sean Meehan; Brian O'Driscoll, Tommy Walsh (0-2, 1x2pt), Luke Fahy (0-2, 1x2pt); Ian Maguire (0-1), Sean Walsh (0-1); Paul Walsh, Sean McDonnell, Dara Sheedy (0-1); Mark Cronin, Chris Og Jones, Steven Sherlock (0-9, 3x2ptf, 1x2pt, 1x'45).

Subs: Ruairi Deane for D Sheedy (46), Conor Corbett (0-1) for M Cronin (50), Jacob O'Driscoll for S Meehan (60), Conor Cahalane for P Walsh (65), Brian Hurley for C Jones (65)

Referee: David Gough (Meath)