Cork produced a major upset in the All-Ireland round robin series this afternoon, defeating Donegal on a scoreline of 3-9 to 0-16 at Páirc Uí Rinn.
Jim McGuinness' men entered this game unbeaten in league and championship competition in 2024, earning promotion from Division 2 before winning the Ulster Championship. Many felt they had become leading contenders to win an All-Ireland as a result, with a victory expected in this fixture.
However, it would soon become apparent that Cork would be no pushovers in the game.
They would produce some wonderful scores in the first half, including this goal from Matty Taylor.
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Donegal had not conceded a goal in any of their four championship matches prior to this game, although Cork seemed to identify a chink in that armour on this occasion.
They would raise three green flags in the opening 40 minutes of the game, something that ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides.
In the end, they would run out as deserved two-point winners.
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McGuinness says Donegal failed to deal with Cork's main strength
This result is far from a disaster for Donegal, although it does potentially make their route in the All-Ireland series more difficult. Should Cork win their final group game, the Ulster county will be forced to play in a preliminary quarter-final.
Speaking to the media after the game, Jim McGuinness said that while his team had been warned about the running power in Cork's team, their failure to stem the tide in this area was ultimately their undoing.
Cork are a very strong running team and they asked a lot of questions on the transition, and that was something we knew pretty clearly coming into the game...
We played Cork earlier in the year and Cork scored two goals from transitional moments...
We were very well tuned to what they were going to bring to the table but being tuned to it and dealing with it are two different things...
We would normally have the answers to those moments but we didn’t have them today.
And (conceding) three goals, you’re not going to win a game, you don’t deserve to win a game when you concede three goals in championship football...
We won’t go too hard on them. It’s the first defeat of the year. They’ve done brilliantly – promotion, Ulster championship and not a lot has changed. We have to wait and see what happens in the Cork against Tyrone game to see what we will need.
I hope [they learn from it]. We spoke a lot during the winter months. You’re bringing a group together and you’re trying to mould things. It’s days like today that you’re tested.
I hope we will be better for it and stronger for it later on in the championship.
Donegal will face Clare in their final All-Ireland round robin game, while Cork will take on Tyrone knowing that a draw will be enough to secure top spot in the group.
Jim McGuinness will be hoping that this loss will serve as a reminder to his players that there is still plenty of work to be done if they are to challenge for the Sam Maguire later this summer.
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