Donegal's defence took the day off as Cork defeated them by 4-11 to 0-19 in the first of today's league semi-finals at Croke Park.

Colm O'Neill's brace of second-half goals proved decisive; his second three-pointer arrived in the 58th minute and gave the Rebels a six-point lead that they were never likely to relinquish, while Tom Clancy and Brian Hurley also netted for the winners who at times eased through their opponents' impotent rearguard like the proverbial hot knife through butter.

At the end of an entertaining but strangely timid first half - with lots of good attacking football and hardly any defending at all - the sides were level: Donegal 0-11 Cork 1-8.

The Rebels made a late change to their starting XV, with Tom Clancy (Clonakilty) replacing Jamie O'Sullivan at right corner back, donning the Mo.17 shirt - and it was Clancy who netted the first-half goal in the 19th minute. Meanwhile, the Ulster champions effected two late switches: Hugh McFadden and Eoin McHugh replaced Christy Toye and Martin O'Reilly respectively.

Hurley curled over the opening point from the right wing in the second minute, with the northerners registering wides from Anthony Thompson and Colm McFadden either side of that score. Donegal then hit three points inside two minutes from Thompson, Michael Murphy and Patrick McBrearty.

The Rebels came back with scores from John O'Rourke and Fintan Goold and Donegal in turn replied through Murphy ('45' - after Ken O'Halloran denied McFadden from point-blank range) and a magnificent McBrearty strike: 0-5 to 0-3 after ten minutes.

Murphy (free) made it double scores and a brilliant Odhran MacNiallais strike was cancelled out by Rebels wing back Conor Dorman before Clonakilty's Clancy drilled the ball low to the net to draw the sides level  in the 19th minute.

Again, Donegal pulled away with points from Murphy (free), Karl Lacey and McBrearty (free); Goold had a sight of goal at the other end but he blasted the ball over the bar with his left boot from close range: 0-10 to 1-5 after 25 minutes.

Brian Cuthbert's side were level by the 30th minute when Man of the Match Goold and Colm O'Driscoll fired over two points inside a minute. A sublime McFadden strike from distance restored Donegal's advantage two minutes from the short whistle but O'Neill mustered an injury-time equaliser when he turned close to the posts to fire over off his right peg from a tight angle.

O'Neill also chipped a soft Cork free over the bar in the second minute of the second half and then showed great presence of mind to fist the ball high to the Hill 16 net after O'Rourke's shot had rebounded off the top of the upright. When Donegal replied via a Martin McElhinney point, the Rebels notched a second goal inside two minutes - this one from Hurley, who curled the ball into the top right corner - to lead by six: 3-9 to 0-12 after 40 minutes.

McElhinney and Goold traded points before Donegal's twin terrors Murphy (2) and McFadden reduced the leeway to three with a trio of trademark scores inside a couple of minutes. After O'Halloran pulled off his second brilliant save of the match, denying McBrearty this time, Cork full back Michael Shields broke forward to kick an inspirational point from the right wing. The Rebels led by four at the three-quarters stage: 3-11 to 0-16.

Murphy casually stroked over his second converted '45' but the Rebels struck for their fourth major in the 57th minute: Hurley ran 40 yards completely unchallenged and picked out O'Neill with a pass across the face of goal. O'Neill cut inside and sent a daisy-cutter into the bottom corner to leave six points between the sides: 4-11 to 0-17.

Some twelve minutes later, McBrearty pulled back a consolation point and Murphy tagged on another in injury time with the match long since over as a meaningful contest. If it ever was one to begin with…

Cork - K O'Halloran; Tom Clancy (1-0), M Shields (0-1), J Loughrey; C Dorman (0-1), Brian O'Driscoll, Tomas Clancy; E Cadogan, F Goold (0-4); C O'Driscoll (0-1), J O'Rourke (0-1), K O'Driscoll; C O'Neill (2-2, 0-1f), M Collins, B Hurley (1-1). Subs: P Kerrigan for M Shields, D Goulding for C O'Driscoll, Barry O'Driscoll for Brian O'Driscoll, J Hayes for B Hurley, D Og Hodnett for J O'Rourke.

Donegal - M Boyle; P McGrath, N McGee, E McGee; F McGlynn, K Lacey (0-1), A Thompson (0-1); M McElhinney (0-2), H McFadden; E McHugh, O MacNiallais (0-1), R McHugh; P McBrearty (0-4, 1f), M Murphy (0-8, 2f, 2'45), C McFadden (0-2). Subs: E Doherty for A Thompson, M O'Reilly for E McHugh, C Toye for P McGrath, S Griffin for C McFadden, D McLaughlin for H McFadden.

Referee - Marty Duffy.

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