Spillane saves the day for Cork
Cork 1-11 Donegal 1-10
Cork centre back Ger Spillane drove the final nail into the Ulster coffin with a stoppage time winner to send Donegal crashing out of the race for Sam.
Armagh's defeat to Kerry earlier in the day means that for the first time ever, no team, from the northern province will compete in the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals.
Christy Toye gave Donegal a dream start, punching to the net from Michael Doherty's floated free kick in the fourth minute.
But Cork struck back with an 11th minute goal, John Hayes slotting home a penalty after Nicholas Murphy had been hauled down by Barry Monaghan.
The Ulster men regrouped, and eased into a 1-4 to 1-1 lead with scores from Leon Thompson (2) and Doherty.
But the Rebels finished the half strongly, and scores from James Masters (free) and Fintan Gould, narrowed the gap to two.
Donegal lead by 1-5 to 1-3 at the break, but the sides were level within five minutes of the restart, with Masters, Pearse O'Neill and centre back Ger Spillane all nailing on scores.
The Rebels led briefly through Donncha O'Connor, but with Neil Gallagher emerging as a key figure in midfield, Donegal swung the balance back in their favour
Doherty's converted free was followed by a sublime effort from substitute Colin Kelly, but despite some superb defending by Barry Dunnion, Cork closed the gap again, Kevin McMahon floating over a point.
It took James Masters an hour to escape the clutches of Karl Lacey and post his first score from play, but soon afterwards the sides were level when Kevin O'Brien split the posts.
They survived some more anxious moments, saved at one point by Spillane's perfectly executed tackle just as Stephen McDermott was about to pull the trigger.
And it was Spillane who popped up to take Nicholas Murphy's offload to clip over the winner
