The performance, the goals, the result, the pitch invasion. Cork football was “crying out” for it all. Manager John Cleary said post-match that his team had been steadily climbing the ladder in 2024.
Only one defeat from their last seven outings. But he wondered if unbeaten Donegal was a step his charges might struggle to ascend to. After all, they were playing, by his own admission, the “best team in the country”.
They made the step and so the home support in the crowd of 7,251 hurtled down the stand and terrace steps at full-time for a rare pitch invasion where Cork football is concerned. “Particularly playing here at home and seeing the crowd, Cork football is crying out for that,” Cleary began. “This group are putting in a savage effort.
We've been kind of slowly climbing the ladder so it was a case of would today be a step too far? But I thought we played outstandingly well at times. “It looked like we might leave it behind, but thankfully we got two turnovers at the end to kick two great points to get us over the line.” Turnovers were Cork’s oxygen on a sweltering afternoon.
If Cork weren't stripping the Ulster champions, Donegal spilled or cheaply coughed up possession. For Cork’s opening goal, Seán Powter ripped and robbed Ryan McHugh. The pair at the beginning of the second period were from Donegal point attempts dropped short.
“Our lads got some great turnovers,” the Cork boss continued. “I knew that we'd have a big performance today be.
