Derry into All-Ireland semi-finals after Croke Park victory over Cork

All-Ireland SFC quarter-final

Derry 1-12

Cork 1-8

Derry booked their spot in the last four of the All-Ireland with victory over Cork at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.

It was the first meeting since Derry beat the Rebels in the 1993 All-Ireland final and it was Conor Doherty’s 49th minute goal that proved the key score seconds after Rory Maguire’s fisted goal had the deficit back to a single point.

Cork hit the opening point of the game with a Colm O’Callaghan score before Derry pushed into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with two Mcguigan points and a score from Ethan Doherty.

Cork had four first-half wides but two a Steven Sherlock 45 gave them something to build on.

Paul Cassidy (2) and Ethan Doherty added scores as Derry went 0-6 to 0-3 ahead. They left two balls short with their attacking unit pushed up.

A swift move with two kick passes opened the door for a fisted Kevin O’Donovan score to lead Cork in touch at the break, 0-6 to 0-5.

Brendan Rogers made a vital interception to prevent a Cork goal chance in the first attack wuth Niall Loughlin scoring at the other end.

McFaul added a Derry point before they got a let off when a Cork breakaway from the kick-out ended up with Brian O’Driscoll pulling a half goal chance wide.

Cork got a lifeline when Rory Maguire punched to the net only for Conor Doherty to slot to the net seconds later for a 1-9 to 1-5 lead after 49 minutes.

Brendan Rogers added two points for a Derry team who could afford to see Shane McGuigan’s stoppage time penalty saved by goalkeeper Martin.

Teams and Scorers

Derry: Odhrán Lynch; Chrissy McKaigue, Eoin McEvoy, Conor McCluskey; Conor Doherty (1-0), Gareth McKinless, Paudi McGrogan; Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers (0-2); Niall Toner, Paul Cassidy (0-2), Ethan Doherty (0-2); Ciaran McFaul (0-1), Shane McGuigan (0-4f), Niall Loughlin (0-1)

Subs: Benny Heron for N Toner (46), Lachlan Murry for N Loughlin (56), Padraig Cassidy for C McFaul (60), Shea Downey for E McEvoy (66), Paul McNeill for E Doherty (73)

Cork: Míchéal Aodh Martin; Maurice Shanley, Rory Maguire (1-0), Tommy Walsh; Kevin O'Donovan (0-1), Daniel O'Mahony, Matty Taylor; Colm O'Callaghan (0-2), Ian Maguire; Brian O'Driscoll, Ruairi Deane (0-1), Killian O'Hanlon; Sean Powter, Steven Sherlock (0-2 45), Conor Corbett

Subs: Eoghan McSweeney (0-1) for K O’Hanlon (INJ 40), Chris Óg Jones (0-1) for S Powter (51), Brian Hurley for S Sherlock (56), John O’Rourke for  B O’Driscoll (59), Paul Walsh for R Deane (67)

Yellow card: M Taylor (71),

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)