Cork Push Dublin to the Limit in Brave Croke Park Exit
Cork’s 2025 season came to a valiant end at Croke Park, but not without pushing Dublin to the wire in a game where the Rebels led for long spells and matched their opponents stride for stride.
John Cleary’s men were level with just over ten minutes to go, but Dublin’s late burst — four of the final five points — saw the game slip from Cork’s grasp, 1-18 to 1-15.
This was a spirited and tactically sharp Cork performance, built on courage, precision, and a superb collective effort, even if ultimately it wasn’t enough to reach the quarter-finals.
Chris Óg Jones delivered a star turn in Croke Park, finishing with 1-4 including a clinical 12th-minute goal that saw Cork take a deserved lead. The goal came from a cleverly worked sideline: Ian Maguire picked out Jones who finished coolly, drilling across Stephen Cluxton into the far corner.
That green flag was part of an impressive 1-3 unanswered burst for Cork during the first half, with Brian Hurley notching two stylish points and goalkeeper Micheál Aodh Martin driving over a 45 following another Jones effort.
Cork took a 1-8 to 0-9 lead into half-time, and looked full value for it.
Dublin hit back with a goal from Brian Howard in the 45th minute, but Cork weren’t rattled. Points from Colm O’Callaghan, Jones again, and Mark Cronin saw them level the game at 1-12 apiece, before Sean Walsh nudged them ahead once more.
That phase was Cork’s finest — four points in a row that showed belief, structure and cutting edge.
A turning point came midway through the second half when Cleary’s frustration at a sideline decision saw the ball moved forward for a Dublin free. Cormac Costello missed the two-point attempt — a let-off — but the Dubs kept coming.
Despite Cork’s heroic efforts in defence — with Daniel O’Mahony, Maurice Shanley, and Sean Brady standing firm — the weight of Dublin’s bench and big-game experience told in the closing minutes.
There will be disappointment, but this performance underlined Cork’s upward trajectory. The Rebels stood toe-to-toe with one of Gaelic football’s great teams, and left nothing behind on the pitch.
John Cleary’s side exit the championship with pride, having won hearts and shown real development, especially from younger players like Jones, Cronin, and O’Callaghan.
Scorers for Cork
Chris Óg Jones 1-4, Mark Cronin 0-4 (2fs), Brian Hurley 0-2, Colm O’Callaghan 0-2, Ian Maguire, Micheál Aodh Martin (45), Sean Walsh, Cathail O’Mahony 0-1 each
Cork Team
Cork: Micheal Aodh Martin; Daniel O’Mahony, Maurice Shanley, Neil Lordan; Brian O’Driscoll, Sean Brady, Matty Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan; Paul Walsh, Sean Walsh, Sean McDonnell; Brian Hurley, Mark Cronin, Chris Og Jones.
Subs: Eoghan McSweeney for Paul Walsh 48, Conor Cahalane for McDonnell 49-58 blood, Cathail O’Mahony for Hurley 55, Sean Powter for Taylor 58, Luke Fahy for Lordan 63.
