Cork v Mayo Player Ratings: How the Rebels fared at Croke Park
Goalkeeper Patrick Doyle was one of Cork's best performers at Croke Park on Saturday. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
After Cork lost their opening three kick-outs, they retained seven of the next eight up to half-time. They finished securing 16 out of 23 overall, which was impressive. Doyle was also alert around the square to keep a clean sheet.
In tandem with Shanley tagged Mayo’s marquee forwards.
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Might have been worth switching him out to the half-back line in the last quarter.
Picked up Darragh Beirne, who clipped two fine first-half scores though Meehan did well on the front foot. Ended up on Tommy Conroy who also a real handful. Left isolated too often.
One of the more experienced campaigners in red, comfortable on the ball in the crowded middle third. Had a low-percentage goal chance smothered late on.
Powerful first half though he should have grabbed a point. Kept at it even when the game was slipping away. Cork’s best defender all season.
Late call-up to the starting 15 in place of Luke Fahy. Had a point and a wide but could have been more direct when Mayo backed off.
Deployed as a quasi-target man on Cork’s early attacking phases, scoring a point. He also made a key defensive block on a Ryan O’Donoghue shot. Midfield wasn’t Cork’s issue.
Strong in the air, grabbed a first-half point and should have had another. Cork needed him to break the lines a bit more but their build-up was often too slow. 6.
Nailed a class first-half point after a dummy and fouled for Mark Cronin’s two-point free. Added two more second-half points and Cork’s best highest scorer from play.
On the world of ball as Cork’s link-man early though he was regularly swarmed in possession. Quiet second half before being replaced.
Worked hard without getting a lot of possession. Cork needed a better return from deep when Mayo’s backs sagged off.
Converted a free from outside the arc but didn’t get any quality ball from play within range. Blocked down inside the 20-metre line early in the second half. Switched to centre-forward briefly when he looked lively before coming off.
His pace and directness was a threat. Forced Jack Livingstone into a save and hit a first-half point and added another after half-time. Fisted a wide after 59 minutes when Cork had the gap down to three points.
The marked man in the Rebel attack after his recent exploits and Donnacha McHugh stuck to him tenaciously. Clipped over two decent points but to win Cork needed him to be lifting and McHugh rarely left him get into space.
First sub in after 47 minutes and added energy and directness. Fouled for two converted frees.
Couldn’t make an impact in the last 20 minutes and missed a couple of chances.
A point and a wide in a late cameo.
On too late to rate.
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