Mayo edge Cork in thrilling contest

Mayo booked their place in the All-Ireland quarter-finals with a 2-20 to 0-27 win after extra-time over a brave Cork at the Gaelic Grounds.

Cork battled after heading into the break three points behind and were rewarded with goals from Sean Powter and Luke Connolly, before Connolly kicked over in the 77th minute to bring the tie to extra-time.

And the Rebels looked like the more likely after normal time with Paul Kerrigan registering two impressive points, but the day belonged to Mayo as Keith Higgins, Diarmuid and Cillian O’Connor kicked the deciding scores.

Indeed, it was Cork who dominated early on with scores from Donncha O’Connor, who showed glimpses of the player he was back in the Rebel County's 2010 All-Ireland title win.

But to their credit, Mayo upped gears with ten minutes to half-time as a late flurry of points seen the Heather men go into the interval leading 0-10 to 0-07.

Aidan O'Shea played a crucial role for Mayo as he kicked over along with Donncha O’Connor to send Cork further behind and seemingly struggling.

But despite going 20 minutes scoreless, Cork rallied and hit four without reply, before Sean Powter's goal coupled with another John O’Rourke point reduced the deficit to one.

Mayo hit back as the in-form O'Connor kicked two quick points to extend his side's lead to three with only minutes remaining.

Just as it looked like Cork had done it, Mayo pulled level after Connelly scored a crucial last ditch goal before pointing from a 45, cancelling out a Mayo reply shortly after the goal and sending the tie into extra-time.

And it was Cork who looked the more likely when the teams returned to the field as two Kerrigan points saw them ahead 2-19 to 0-24 with ten minutes played.

Keith Higgins levelled the affair shortly after, before Diarmuid O’Connor pointed from the right to hand Mayo a nail-biting lead.

And they extended their narrow advantage to two when Cillian O’Connor registered a score, a point which turned out to be the winner despite Michael Hurley's late reply.  

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