Published Sunday, 26 August 2012
Donegal's Mark McHugh celebrates the final whistle (© Presseye)
The Ulster champions defeated the 2010 All-Ireland winners during Sunday's senior semi-final at Croke Park.
There was little between the sides in an evenly contested first half.
The teams were level on no fewer than six occasions in the opening 35 minutes.
There was never more than a point in the lead as both sides sent over some excellent scores.
The lead changed hands on several occasions, with Cork edging ahead in the 28th minute courtesy of Ciaran Sheehan.
But it was Donegal who scored the last two points of the first half, David Walsh and Mark Hugh on target to help their team into an 8-7 lead.
Into the second half Donegal were quicker out of the blocks as Colm McFadden landed an exquisite point to increase the gap.
Frank McGlynn and Karl Lacey tagged on two more as Jim McGuinness' side led by four.
And when Michael Murphy sent over a magnificent point from a free Donegal had stretched their advantage to five points in the 54th minute.
And they maintained that lead until deep into stoppage time when Colm O'Neill scored a goal to leave Cork with a glimmer of hope but Donegal held on to a 0-16 to 1-11 win.
Donegal will now face either Dublin or Mayo in the All-Ireland Senior final on 23 September.