Tommy Walsh on beating Donegal: Cork football supporters deserved that...

KANTURK tyro Tommy Walsh savoured a "special day" after being an integral part of the Cork side that upset the odds against Donegal.

The Rebels deservedly beat the Ulster champions at Páirc Uí Rinn, with the hard yards on the training ground under John Cleary and Kevin Walsh's guidance paying off to the tune of three goals.  

"Cleary's drills at training have come to fruition and we know we've quality lads up front. We actually missed a lot of chances too but getting the three goals meant we came good."

It was a far cry from the league when defeats in the opening three games left Cork battling relegation to Division 3.

"The start of the league, make of that what you will, but there's real character in this group... the senior lads like Mags, John O, Deano and Mattie, what they've been through, days like this, they deserve more than anyone.

"Small things went against us earlier in the year, from up in Ballybofey to the defeats to Louth and Cavan but I think we came away from all of that stronger as a group. We get a bad name, it is what it is.

"It's a bit like last year, we got a few great wins under our belt against Mayo and Roscommon, they've stood to us this season." 

A Munster semi-final loss in Killarney is Cork's only reversal since they got back on track with a league win over Fermanagh in late February. They vowed after the Fitzgerald Stadium defeat to target an All-Ireland quarter-final place as group winners, which they'll be assured of provided they can get the better of Tyrone on June 15-16.

We came back after Kerry and we'd an awful lot of regrets like, both personally and collectively. 

"Our focus was to top the group. We've two out of three wins and we need to follow it up now against Tyrone."

LEGACY

Walsh, younger brother of All-Star midfielder and All-Ireland winner Aidan, had a front-row seat to the last time Cork lifted Sam Maguire in 2010, even if he was only seven at the time.

"I was a fairly small lad in those days but I still have memories of it, special memories. You'd look up to the likes of Canty, Noelie and all of those fellas, and you'd be hoping to follow in their footsteps. 

That's what being a Cork football is about but to have any chance of that you need to be consistent."

Tommy's cousin Paul kicked a point on Saturday, adding to the occasion for the Walsh clan.

"We're living 200 metres apart down home. So it adds something extra, for sure."

BUZZ

The Cork fans certainly soaked up the sunshine and the result, which gives the footballers a great shot at returning to the quarter-final stage, where last summer they fell to Derry at Croke Park. Walsh feels, like the hurlers, the footballers get an extra incentive when the Rebel crowd is out in force.

"The crowd really pushed the lads on. It made a difference, especially when we got the two goals after half-time the whole place was lifting. You see with the hurlers winning, it gave everyone a great bounce what they did and hopefully the supporters will continue to back us.

"We've our core supporters too. Like I remember that day up in Fermanagh and we'd fellas up there following us and we'd no right to anything after three losses in a row. I met a few there who were up in Fermanagh and this win was for them as much as for us. They're proper Cork football people and I'm delighted for them especially."