Cork produce second-half rally to leave Mayo facing road trip

Cork recorded a landmark victory over Mayo by blitzing them for 1-06 without reply to achieve the three-point victory they needed to secure a home All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final.

Kerry's early demolition of Louth simplified the permutations as the top three teams ended on four points apiece. Cork and Mayo’s plus-three score difference was identical but the Rebels got the nod on points scored (2-48 to 2-44).

Steven Sherlock changed the game when introduced in the 40th minute for the injured Ruairí Deane. He kicked 1-05 from six shots in the final half-hour as Cork charged back from a 1-11 to 0-08 deficit.

Sherlock accounted for the first 1-04 of that comeback – the goal coming from the penalty spot – to edge Cork ahead before fellow impact subs John O’Rourke and Chris Óg Jones gave them the necessary three-point margin by the fourth minute of additional time.

Mayo had a last-gasp scoreable free. Had they pointed, it would have earned them a home tie as Group 1 runners-up. Had they worked a goal, they’d take the bye to the quarter-final off Kerry as Group 1 winners.

Aidan O’Shea lobbed it in but Míchéal Aodh Martin claimed the high ball as Cork celebrated a first victory over Mayo in 21 years.

There were two late changes on either side.

Cork decided to draft Tommy Walsh and Eoghan McSweeney in for Kevin O'Donovan and Jones. Instead of Jones, it was Deane who partnered Brian Hurley up top at the first whistle, while Colm O’Callaghan drifted in as another high-ball option at every opportunity.

Mayo introduced Donnacha McHugh and Diarmuid O’Connor for Sam Callinan and Fionn McDonagh. As a unit, however, they were lost for ideas to penetrate the Rebels’ blanket defence.

O’Shea did force a save from Martin but it took them 22