Donegal fell short in Ballybofey as Cork snatched a 1-13 to 0-17 victory. Jim McGuinness admitted the team lacked the spark needed to hold a seven‑point lead in the second half. The loss forces Donegal into a round‑three replay, disrupting their push for the Sam Maguire.

McGuinness blamed a deficit of energy and warned that missed free kicks and two‑point frees cost the game. Cork’s strategy to slow play paid off, as they capitalised on a seven‑to‑five swing that shifted momentum. The comeback kept Cork alive in the last eight and left Donegal scrambling.

Steven Sherlock finished with nine points, but four of them were two‑pointers that Cork matched in the final minutes. The match is Donegal’s third home loss in 12 months, following defeats to Down and Tyrone. McGuinness said the outcome “tells us we can’t afford another home collapse.”

With a round‑three replay looming, Donegal must regroup quickly. The loss underscores a pattern of home defeats that threatens their championship ambitions. Cork’s victory keeps them in contention, while Donegal faces a tough road to the quarter‑finals. The match outcome leaves Donegal’s supporters disappointed and the team in urgent need of a turnaround.