Cork 4-11 Donegal 0-19

An entertaining NFL semi-final ended in victory for Cork, whose goalscoring prowess proved crucial.

Though Cork were first on the scoreboard, Donegal dominated midfield early on through Ohdran Mac Niallais, who started there rather than centre-forward.

They hit three points on the trot though Anthony Thompson, Michael Murphy and Paddy McBrearty before Cork responded through John O’Rourke and Fintan Goold.

Donegal eased four ahead before the end of the quarter, their seventh, a curler from Mac Niallais, the pick of them.

However, on 18 minutes Colm O’Neill won a good ball inside the 21 and placed Tom Clancy of Clonakilty, who goaled coolly - 1-4 to 0-7.

Donegal hit three fine points from Murphy, McBrearty and Karl Lacey but Cork responded again, with points from Goold (two) and Colm O’Driscoll to tie it up.

A good Colm McFadden point was answered by a neat Colm O’Neill effort, making it 1-8 to 0-11 at the half.

Cork struck for two goals on the resumption - a John O’Rourke shot came back from the post and O’Neill touched it home, while soon afterwards Eoin Cadogan found Brian Hurley with a long delivery and the ‘Haven man blasted home - 3-9 to 0-12 on forty minutes.

Donegal hit three on the bounce from Murphy (two) and McFadden, however, and Cork needed Ken O’Halloran to save well from McBrearty when a goal was on offer.

On 56 minutes Cork struck again - Hurley made good ground when Cork broke up a Donegal attack, holding his pass until O’Neill was free to finish clinically - 4-11 to 0-17.

That killed the game as a contest, with Cork playing out the time to win eventually by four and to qualify for the league decider.

Scorers for Cork: C. O’Neill 2-2 (0-1 f); B. Hurley 1-1, F. Goold 0-4; T. Clancy 1-0; M. Shields, C. Dorman, J. O’Rourke, C. O’Driscoll 0-1 each.

Scorers for Donegal: M. Murphy 0-8 (0-2 fs, 0-2 45s); P. McBrearty 0-4; C. McFadden, M. McElhinney 0-2 each; K. Lacey, A. Thompson, O Mac Niallais 0-1 each.

CORK: K. O’Halloran, T. Clancy (Clonakilty), M. Shields (c), J. Loughrey, C. Dorman, B. O’Driscoll, T. Clancy (Fermoy), E. Cadogan, F. Goold, C. O’Driscoll, J. O’Rourke, K. O’Driscoll, C. O’Neill, M. Collins, B. Hurley.

Subs: P. Kerrigan for Shields, inj, 54; D. Goulding for K. O’Driscoll, 59; Barry O’Driscoll for Brian O’Driscoll, 63; J. Hayes for Hurley, 67; D. Hodnett for O’Rourke, 68.

DONEGAL: M. Boyle, P. McGrath, N. McGee, E. McGee, A. Thompson, K. Lacey, F. McGlynn, O. Mac Niallais, H. McFadden, E. McHugh, M. McElhinney, R. McHugh, P. McBrearty, M. Murphy (c), C. McFadden.

Subs: E. Doherty for Thompson, 39; M. O’Reilly for E. McHugh, 45; C. Toye for P. McGrath, 48; S. Griffin for C. McFadden, 59; D. McLaughlin for H. McFadden, 63.

Referee: M. Duffy (Sligo).