Donegal rocked by three goals as they fall to Cork in Pairc Ui Rinn

Donegal suffered their first defeat in the championship against a very good Cork side in Pairc Ui Rinn, three goals their downfall.

The normally reliable Donegal defence were cut to shreds, conceding one in the first half but then two early goals in the second half left them chasing all the time. They did get back on terms but just didn't have the normal composure and paid the price.

At times the Donegal tactics looked all at sea, with no cover whatsoever at the back. It was a bit like the Donegal-Derry opening Ulster championship game in reverse, only this time Donegal were looking all over the place.

Work were ready and in some ways they hammered the hammer. The pace of their half-backs and half-forwards had Donegal in big trouble and the number of times holes were punched was alarming.

And yet Donegal could have sneaked out of Pairc Ui Rinn with a draw. They got back on terms on 67 minutes through a neat Aaron Doherty point. It was a good period with Donegal five points down after 52 minutes.

But they didn't have the wherewithal to close out the game. They did have a few calls going against them in this period with Caolan McGonagle harshly called for overcarrying.

It was never going to be an easy fixture and despite Donegal getting off to a perfect start leading 0-3 to 0-1 after 13 minutes, the first half was a real battle.

Peadar Mogan won a free for Patrick McBrearty to push Donegal ahead but Brian Hurley won and pointed a free at the other end.

McBrearty then had two goal chances being put through by Oisin Gallen on 12 minutes and his piledriver was deflected over by Christopher Kelly in the Cork goal.

From the kick-out Donegal turned the ball over and McBrearty was put through again but he elected to fist over with a goal chance on.

Donegal were uncomfortable on the ball in the opening quarter and were turned over a number of times. From one of those Cork broke through Brian O'Driscoll and Chris Og Jones pointed.

It got worse on 19 minutes when Ryan McHugh was turned over with no cover and Matty Taylor went through to fire past Shaun Patton and the lead for Cork.

Shane O'Donnell was then overturned and Chris Og Jones again punished before Donegal regained their composure in the second quarter.

Jason McGee led the fight making a great break and he found Ciaran Moore in support to point. Then Ciaran Thompson did similar and Niall O'Donnell finished.

Jason McGee won a free for Patrick McBrearty to bring Donegal level on 27 minutes but from the kick-out Paul Walsh hit a point from distance to restore the Cork lead.

In the final seven minutes of the half Donegal got back in fromt with Oisin Gallen hitting a wonder score frome the sideline to start the run. Caolan McGonagle made the break for Patrick McBrearty to finish and Ciaran Moore finished the first half scoring.

But just before Moore's point, the Donegal goal had a very lucky escape and Brian Hurley and Colm O'Callaghan both had point blank shots saved, the latter by Shaun Patton to leave Donegal fortunate enough to be ahead at the break by 0-9 to 1-4.

Donegal were rocke on the restart with two goals in four minutes. Sean Powter cut through the middle two minutes in and fired a rocket to the net while two minutes later the Donegal defence were at sixes and sevens as they failed to clear a Cork attack and the ball popped up for Rory Maguire to fist to an empty net.

Brian Hurley extended the lead but Patrick McBrearty hit two points but in between Colm O'Callaghan kept the Cork scoreboard ticking. Oisin Mogan hit a monster 50+m free to cut the lead to three, 3-6 to 0-12, on 51 minutes.

Cork were matching Donegal with every move. Brian Hurley pushed the lead to four but Ryan McHugh replied. Ciaran Thompson won a free for Gallen to cut the lead to two with nine minutes left.

Caolan McGonagle left just one it and Ryan McHugh was just inches outside the post with his effort for an equaliser. The sides were level with three minutes left when Aaron Doherty split the posts.

Caolan McGonagle was whistled for over carrying and Cork broke for Stephen Sherlock to edge them ahead once more. Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí looked like he was fouled in front of the posts but didn't get the award.

Ryan McHugh had another chance but it was short and Cork came forward for Colm O'Callaghan to fist the insurance score on the stroke of time.

Cork scorers: Matty Taylor, Rory Maguire, Sean Powter 1-0 each; Brian Hurley 0-3,2f; Chris Og Jones, Colm O'Callaghan 0-2 each; Paul Walsh, Stephen Sherlock 0-1 each.

Donegal scorers: Patrick McBrearty 0-7,3f; Ciaran Moore 0-2; Oisin Gallen 0-3,2f, Niall O'Donnell, Caolan McGonagle, Ryan McHugh, Aaron Doherty 0-1 each.

Cork: Christopher Kelly; Kevin Flahive, Daniel O'Mahony, Maurice Shanley; Rory Maguire, Tommy Walsh, Matty Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O'Callaghan; Paul Walsh, Sean Powter, Brian O'Driscoll; Chris Og Jones, Mark Cronin, Brian Hurley.
Subs: Stephen Sherlock for Jones (50); Thomas Clancy for T Walsh (57); Ruairi Deane for Cronin (65); Eoghan McSweeney for Hurley (69); Sean Meehan for Walsh (70+3)

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Brendan McCole, Ciaran Moore; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Jason McGee, Michael Langan; Shane O'Donnell, Ciaran Thompson, Dáire Ó Baoill; Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Niall O'Donnell.
Subs: Aaron Doherty for O Baoill (ht); Odhran Doherty for J McGee (40); Jamie Brennan for N O'Donnell (53); Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí for S O'Donnell (61)

Referee: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)