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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Cork v Mayo, U21 All-Ireland football final

Would the Clarke Cup be heading south or west? We followed all the action from Cusack Park.

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the EirGrid U21 All-Ireland football final between Cork and Mayo from Ennis.

The famine will end for one of these sides this evening as they battle it out for the Clarke Cup.

The Rebels haven’t won this competition since 2009, with Mayo’s last title at this age level coming a decade ago.

Both teams are out warming-up on what is a lovely spring evening in Ennis. Not long until the action gets underway so stick with us for what promises to be an entertaining affair.

Here is how Cork will line-up this evening.

Manager Sean Hayes has made two changes to the XV he named on Wednesday with Eoin Lavers and Ronan O’Toole replace Dylan Quinn and Sean O’Leary.

For Mayo James Kelly comes in for the injured Brian Reape.

Cork:

1. Anthony Casey

2. Michael Mc Sweeney
3. John Mullins
4. Eoin Lavers

5. Kevin Flahive
6. Stephen Cronin
7. Kieran Histon

8. Sean White
9. Ronan O’Toole

10. Seán O Donoghue
11. Seán Powter
12. Ryan Harkin

13. Brian Coakley
14. Peter Kelleher
15. Michael Hurley

Which way do you see this one going? Throw-in is a matter of minutes away now.

Pádraig Hughes is our referee and we’re just about all set.

We’re underway at Cusack Park!

Cork 0-1 Mayo 0-0

The Rebels are up and running as Sean O’Donoghue kicks an early free after Ronan O’Toole was fouled.

Cork 0-1 Mayo 0-0

Cork are playing into a considerable breeze in this first half and Mayo are seeing plenty of the ball, although they’ve spurned a couple of scoring chances in the opening exchanges.

Cork 0-1 Mayo 0-0

Mayo just settling into the game and enjoying a period of possession. There’s a healthy crowd in attendance in Ennis with the main stand packed to the rafters.

Cork 0-1 Mayo 0-1

And Mayo draw level as they register their first point of the day. Strong run from Michael Plunkett and he splits the posts.

Cork 0-1 Mayo 0-2

The westerners take the lead for the first time as Matthew Ruane drives forward down the right before composing himself to pop it over.

Cork 0-2 Mayo 0-2

That’s a fine score from Sean Powter. He manufactures a yard of space for himself and fires over the bar to level proceedings again.

Cork 0-2 Mayo 0-2

With the wind at their back, Mayo have a big advantage in the first-half but they’ve yet to fully capitalise. Conor Loftus the latest to send one wide of the posts.

Cork 0-2 Mayo 0-4

But Loftus makes no mistake this time as he converts a free and his point is quickly followed by Plunkett’s second.

Sean White with Fergal Boland Sean White of Cork battles with Fergal Boland. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Cork 0-3 Mayo 0-4

Brilliant from Ryan Harkin as he gathers and slots over with his left foot.

Cork 0-5 Mayo 0-4

Frustration for Mayo as Liam Irwin fails to find his radar and sends his effort wide. They’ve had plenty of scoring chances but their conversion rate hasn’t been good.

Cork 0-7 Mayo 0-4

The Rebels just taking control for the first time. Coakley with a superb score as he smashes over his second in as many minutes and then Harkin adds another. Cork are motoring now.

Cork 0-5 Mayo 0-4

It’s been a pulsating opening 23 minutes to this game and Cork have regained the lead. Sean O’Donoghue levels it and then Brian Coakley registers his first point of the day.

Cork 0-7 Mayo 0-4

While Cork have been clinical in attack, Mayo have been anything but. We have two minutes of injury time at the end of the first period.

Cork 0-7 Mayo 0-4

Rare miss from Cork as Kieran Histon’s effort from the left sails wide.

GOAL! Cork 0-7 Mayo 1-4

Just like that, Mayo are level! Patient build-up play down the right creates the opening before Plunkett squares for the in-rushing Diarmuid O’Connor to palm home. Big moment just before the break.

Half-time! Cork 0-7 Mayo 2-5

Cork 0-7 Mayo 1-5

Mayo hit the front! Liam Irwin converts a free and suddenly they lead.

GOAL! Cork 0-7 Mayo 2-5

Can you believe it? What an end to the half from Mayo as Plunkett sets-up Irwin, who swivels and fires home from close range.

What an incredible end to that half of football. Mayo suddenly clicked into gear after missing several chances previously. Cork will have the advantage of the wind at their backs on the restart but the complexion of the game may just have changed in those minutes before half-time.

Join us again for the second half in a few minutes.

We’ve just about caught our breath again after the first half.

Here are the scorers so far:

Scorers for Mayo: L Irwin 1-1 (1f), D O’Connor 1-0, M Plunkett 0-2, M Ruane 0-1, C Loftus 0-1 (f).

Scorers for Cork: B Coakley 0-2, R Harkin 0-2, S O’Donoghue 0-2 (2fs), S Powter 0-1.

Cork 0-8 Mayo 2-5

Sean O’Donoghue immediately reduces the deficit with a free.

Back underway in Ennis!

Cork 0-9 Mayo 2-5

Ronan O’Toole gets his name on the scoreboard and Cork have two points in quick succession. Mayo lead by two.

Liam Irwin celebrates his goal.

Liam Irwin celebrates scoring his sides second goal Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

GOAL! Cork 0-10 Mayo 3-6

A big, big moment. Mayo break and Conor Loftus clinically rifles the ball into the roof of the net. Breathing space now for the green and red.

Cork 0-10 Mayo 3-6

Ronan O’Toole’s game is over as he’s forced off with an injury. Sean O’Leary comes on for Cork.

Cork 0-10 Mayo 3-6

Moments before Mayo’s third goal, their goalkeeper, Mattie Flanagan pulled off a fine save to tip Peter Kelleher’s stinging effort onto the post and away to safety.

Cork 0-10 Mayo 3-6

The attendance here at Cusack Park is 7,467 – and the crowd are being treated to an exciting, free-flowing game.

Cork 0-10 Mayo 3-6

Further blow for Cork as Sean White is black carded by Pádraig Hughes. Dan O’Duinin is on.

Cork 0-10 Mayo 3-6

Less than 20 minutes remaining, can Cork find another gear to spark a comeback? Mayo’s lead stands at five points.

Enda is enjoying is evening in Ennis.

inpho_01055121 Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

GOAL! Cork 1-10 Mayo 3-6

Cork are right back in the contest. Peter Kelleher rises to fist home Sean O’Donoghue’s 45. Two points in it.

Cork 1-11 Mayo 3-6

Coakley on the mark again as he scores his fourth point of the day.

Cork 1-11 Mayo 3-7

Conor Loftus stems the flow and restores Mayo’s two-point advantage. Just eight minutes remaining at Cusack Park.

Cork 1-11 Mayo 3-7

But Michael Hurley instantly replies and it’s a one-point game again.

Cork 1-13 Mayo 3-7

And we’re level! Coakley converts a free and it’s all-square at Cusack Park.

Cork 1-13 Mayo 3-7

Which was is this one going? Last few minutes now and we’re delicately poised.

GOAL! Cork 1-13 Mayo 4-7

That man Loftus and he’s surely won it for Mayo! He gathers a loose kickout from Anthony Casey and holds off two defenders before firing into the top corner.

GOAL! Cork 1-13 Mayo 5-7

Irwin scores his second goal of the game as he palms it home. Four minutes of added time and Mayo have now surely done enough to be crowned All-Ireland winners.

Full-time! Cork 1-14 Mayo 5-7

Mayo win their fifth U21 All-Ireland crown and they were deserving winners in Ennis. It’s their first title since 2006.

Michael Solan’s team scored five goals and after a slow start were clinical in front of goal. That’s all from Cusack Park but we’ll have a full match report in the next few minutes.

Join us tomorrow for live coverage of the Allianz League final between Clare and Waterford from Semple Stadium. Until then, goodbye!

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