Patrick Doyle: 'We've won nothing yet — but this was a serious Cork performance'

Cork goalkeeper Patrick Doyle cut a grounded but satisfied figure after Saturday’s brilliant 0-17 to 1-13 win over Donegal in Ballybofey.

It's a result that sends Cork into the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals for the first time since 2023 and marks one of the most satisfying wins and performances of the modern Cork football era.

For Doyle, it was a day that underlined both Cork’s resilience and their growing maturity, even when Donegal repeatedly threatened to pull clear.

From the outset, Doyle felt the Rebels were never out of the contest, despite Donegal carrying a comfortable lead for long stretches.

“I thought we were in the game the whole time,” he said post-match.

“Even though they always had that bit of a lead, we were sticking with them. And with the new rules, it only takes a two-pointer or a goal and you’re right back in it. That’s the way it worked out for us.

“If you take the Donegal goal out of it, it was just a small error. These things happen. Aside from that, in every other metric we were very close to them. There was no sense of panic. With the way the game is now, you’re only ever two points away from being back in it.” 

What followed was Cork’s most complete final quarter of championship football in years.

The last 15 minutes or so belonged to John Cleary’s side: they won breaks, controlled the tempo, and crucially, disrupted Donegal’s restarts.

“We probably got on top there,” Doyle says. 

“We won a couple of breaks, got on top of their kick-out near the end — two or three big ones — and that was crucial.

“If that Donegal effort right at the end went into the top corner, we’d be going home crying. But look, it’s a good win. We’ll enjoy it.” 

If Cork’s composure on the pitch was impressive, the scenes off it were just as striking and Doyle made a point of acknowledging the fans.

“It’s brilliant. It’s not an easy thing to get up here. I talked to some people who left at five in the morning. My own auntie and two cousins came up from Dingle this morning. We do appreciate the support — they really got behind us at the end.” 

Two years ago, Cork left Ballybofey after a sobering defeat to Donegal. The Rebels have come a long way since. Doyle remembers it vividly.

“I’ll never forget that day — my first day out. This is worlds apart. There’s a serious Cork football following. They’re passionate. They’ll follow us anywhere. Whatever about the result, we gave them a performance today.

“Every game is different. If you look around the championship, teams are beating teams they weren’t beating before. It’s a very open championship. We’re just delighted to still be in it and to be going back to Croke Park in two weeks.

“Things are going all right this year, but it’s not finished yet. We’ll get back training Tuesday or Wednesday and look forward to two weeks’ time. But we have to enjoy these days as well.”