Cork v Donegal: Paul Kerrigan's goal the star turn in 2009 win
Paul Kerrigan celebrates his goal against Donegal in the 2009 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park. Picture: Larry Cummins
Every goal is worth three points – but some are a lot more valuable than others.
Two years ago, Cork hosted Donegal in Páirc Uí Rinn in the All-Ireland SFC and Ian Maguire, Seán Powter and Matty Taylor all netted; each green flag was vital in a 3-9 to 0-16 victory.
As Cork prepare to travel to Ballybofey this weekend, it’s likely that goals will be required for an away victory. What we can almost certainly say is that it won’t by 1-27 to 2-10 for the Rebels, as was the scoreline in the 2009 All-Ireland quarter-final at Croke Park.
It was only the second senior championship meeting between the counties and it could be argued that Cork were coming to the peak of the Conor Counihan era in terms of performances – the semi-final win over Tyrone being the apex even if it took another year for the Sam Maguire Cup to be won.
What is surprising about the easy win over Donegal was that half of their starting team would still be present three years later when Jim McGuinness took them to the promised land.
Had you been told that day in 2009 that one of the counties would claim just a single provincial title between then and 2026, you wouldn’t have thought it would be the one in red and white.
While Donegal out-goaled Cork that day, Rory Kavanagh and Stephen Griffin struck late on, long after Cork had the game won.
However, such was the routine nature of the victory – and the fact that the Tyrone win, and subsequent Kerry loss in the final, overshadowed it – Cork’s goal that day is now largely forgotten too, despite it being one of the best passages of the Counihan era.
It summed up the workrate involved, along with the team ethic. When Donegal made a rare attack early in the second half, Michael Shields made a strong block and Alan O’Connor latched on to the loose ball near his own end-line.
He rode a couple of challenges and transferred possession to his midfield partner Nicholas Murphy on the 45. He then found Patrick Kelly on the left flank; a long pass up the line to Donncha O’Connor allowed the Ballincollig man to race on and collect the return before changing direction, moving diagonally inwards.
Paul Kerrigan was running perpendicular to Kelly but the pass was perfectly judged, allowing Kerrigan to meet the ball without breaking stride. There was still work to do but Kerrigan applied an outside-of-the-boot finish that was as deft as you’d see, sending the ball to the top corner.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_IVPeX9B64&t=339s[/youtube]
On The Sunday Game that night, Kevin McStay summed it up: “You dream of finishes like that, spend a whole career wondering if you’ll get one.”
The Cork attackers will dream of similar on Saturday – let’s hope one of them comes true.
P Kerrigan 1-4, D O’Connor (0-3f), J Miskella 0-4 each, D Goulding 0-3, P O’Neill, P Kelly, C O’Neill, F Goold, P Kissane 0-2 each, G Canty, F Lynch 0-1 each.
M Murphy 0-6 (0-2f), S Griffin, R Kavanagh 1-0 each, B Monaghan, B Roper, E McGee, A Hanlon 0-1 each.
A Quirke; R Carey, M Shields, K O'Connor; N O'Leary, G Canty, J Miskella; A O'Connor, N Murphy; P Kerrigan, P O'Neill, P Kelly; D Goulding, C O'Neill, D O'Connor.
F Goold for A O'Connor (45), F Lynch for O'Neill (50), M Cussen for N Murphy (52), P Kissane for Miskella (55), J Hayes for Kerrigan (60).
M Boyle; F McGlynn, N McGee, K Lacey; B Dunnion, B Monaghan, E McGee; B Boyle, K Cassidy; R Kavanagh, B Roper, L McLoone; C Dunne, M Murphy, C McFadden.
D Walsh for Roper; S Griffin for McLoone (both half-time), D Gallagher for Boyle (49), A Hanlon for Dunne (51), E Waide for E McGee (55).
M Deegan (Laois).
App?
