Mayo turn on style to beat Cork and reach semi-finals

Mayo marched into the semi-finals of the All-Ireland SFC after a 0-23 to 0-18 win over Cork at Croke Park.

Andy Moran's side were back at Croke Park for the knock-out stages for the first time in three seasons and will contest a semi-final for the first time since 2021.

The forward play from the Westerners was a joy to behold with their full-forward line, Ryan O'Donoghue (0-8), Darragh Beirne (0-7) and Kobe McDonald (0-4) accounting for all but four of their 23-point haul.

Mayo also registered five two-pointers as Cork's wait for a semi-final spot will run into a 17th season.

Both sides were deadlocked at half-time, with John Cleary's men left to rue wasted chances and a wide count that stood at 12 come the final whistle.

Mayo fans will now be dreaming of a first All-Ireland title since 1951 ahead of a return to HQ in a fortnights time.

The magnitude of what was at stake seemed to weigh on both counties throughout the first half, with pressure perhaps explaining Cork's eight wides, while Mayo also struggled with accuracy, registering five wides of their own.

On the balance of play, Cork were the better side and dominated the Mayo restarts, the Westerners getting real joy when they finally got the ball into the hands of their full forward line.

O'Donoghue, Beirne and McDonald accounting for all of their first-half scores.

Jack Livingstone has been in all-star form since being given the number one jersey by Andy Moran, he was called into action on just five minutes diving to his left to deny Chris Og Jones a sure goal.

Mark Cronin's two-point free midway through the half, and further scores from Paul Walsh and Stephen Sherlock had John Cleary's side three to the good.

McDonald's incredible two-pointer with the outside of his right, reminiscent of his father, breathed life back into their cause as their grip on the contest started to loosen.

Sherlock and Jones landed efforts in reply, only for O'Donoghue to nail a two-point free on the hooter, the sides went in level at nine points apiece.

Cork should have had a goal with the first attack of the second half, Chris Og Jones skewing over the bar when it was clear he had goal on his mind.

The Mayo full-forward line continued to cause the Rebels untold problems with five rapid-fire scores in a row.

Beirne raising his counties third orange flag, this time from a free, before Kobe finished a lightening counter-attack.

Beirne nailing his second two-pointer from the very next play, and in the blink of an eye Mayo led by four.

John Cleary's men weren't out of his contest just yet, outscoring their opponents 0-4 to 0-1 over a five minute period, Sherlock, Paul Walsh (two) and Rory Maguire all on target to put two between them heading into the final quarter.

Mayo's reply was emphatic, O'Donoghue landing his fourth of the day, from the next attack Jack Carney hit his sides fifth two-pointer, substitute Tommy Conroy added another to extend the lead to five.

The Rebel County needed a response and fast, like most of his years championship that came from the boot of Sherlock via a pressure free for two-points.

Substitute Brian Hurley buried through for a score to leave the deficit at three, once again Livingstone was called into action making a brave stop from Colm O'Callaghan's powerful effort on goal.

At the other end, O'Donoghue nailed a free and Conor Loftus shot over to give Andy Moran's men breathing space and a five point lead with 66 minutes on the clock.

In their desperate attempt to get back into the game, Cork failed to keep three player in defence, their breach was punished as O'Donoghue tapped over a close range free.

The Connacht side held possession at death, the sound of the hooter met by a deafening wall of noise from the large Mayo crowd who will return for the All-Ireland semi-final in two weeks time.

Cork: Patrick Doyle; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O'Mahony, Seanie Meehan; Brian O'Driscoll, Tommy Walsh, Rory Maguire (0-1); Ian Maguire (0-1), Colm O'Callaghan (0-1); Paul Walsh (0-3), Sean McDonnell, Dara Sheedy; Mark Cronin (0-2 1x2ptf), Chris Og Jones (0-2), Steven Sherlock (0-7 1f, 1x2ptf, 2x45').

Subs: Ruairi Deane for S McDonnell (48), Conor Corbett for D Sheedy (51), Brian Hurley (0-1) for M Cronin (61), Sean Brady for R Maguire (62), Sean Walsh for Paul Walsh (65)

Mayo: Jack Livingstone; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Eoin McGreal; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Enda Hession; Bob Tuohy, Jack Carney (0-2 1x2pt); Stephen Coen, Paul Towey, Jordan Flynn; Darragh Beirne (0-7 1x2pt, 1x2ptf), Ryan O'Donoghue (0-8 2f, 1x2ptf), Kobe McDonald (0-4 1x2pt).

Subs: Diarmuid Duffy for E McGreal (12), Tommy Conroy (0-1) for P Towey (HT), Conor Loftus (0-1) for S Coen (49), Matthew Ruane for B Tuohy (54), Rory Brickenden for D Duffy (65)

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)