JIM McGUINNESS admitted that his quest to bring the Glory Days back to Donegal encountered its first ‘major setback’ against goal-hungry Cork at Páirc Uí Rinn. The Ulster champions have been on fire since the return of the Boss, whose team had not tasted defeat in 12 competitive games this season. But it was unlucky 13 for McGuinness as they were upstaged by a Cork side who had to use their secondary home venue while the Páirc Uí Chaoimh pitch recovers from the recent Bruce Springsteen concert.
Aiming for a sixth straight clean sheet, Donegal were exposed by a pacy Cork outfit boasting players who were Born to Run. And McGuinness insisted: “You don’t deserve to win a game when you concede three goals in Championship football.” When Ryan McHugh coughed up possession to Seán Powter on 19 minutes, Matty Taylor surged forward at breakneck speed to become the first player to rattle the Donegal net in this year’s Championship.
Although the visitors rallied to lead by 0-9 to 1-4 at the change of ends, their advantage was wiped out within four minutes of the restart as Powter and Rory Maguire raised green flags in quick succession. Indeed, five of the eight goals conceded by Donegal in 2024 have been scored by Cork, who also netted twice during their NFL Division 2 defeat in Ballybofey. Having seized the momentum late on, Donegal were finally back on level terms when sub Aaron Doherty pointed in the 67th minute.
Roared on by the considerable Donegal presence in .