Donegal lacked spark in Cork loss - McGuinness

Donegal lacked spark in Cork loss - McGuinnessImage source, InphoByOdhran CrumleyBBC Sport NI journalist at MacCumhaill ParkPublished5 minutes agoDonegal boss Jim McGuinness admitted "there wasn't enough energy" in his side as they let slip a seven-point lead to lose 0-17 to 1-13 to Cork in their All-Ireland SFC round 2A game in Ballybofey.McGuinness' side had been heavily fancied for Saturday's game as they looked to secure passage to the quarter-finals. But Cork staged a comeback to reach the last eight, leaving Donegal with an unwanted extra game in round three next week. "There wasn't enough energy in us, there wasn't enough fire, there wasn't enough spark in us," said McGuinness."It's really disappointing to be honest with you, we didn't do enough in the game."Cork came and they had the game plan to try and slow the game and take the sting out of the game but from our own point of view we just didn't do enough.Donegal looked comfortable early in the second half as they led by seven, but six two-pointers - including four from Steven Sherlock who finished with 0-9 - sealed a famous comeback win for the Rebel County."I think just a couple of moments here and there that kind of cost us. We conceded a couple of free kicks, a couple of two-point free kicks, put them back into it," added McGuinness."The game changes very quickly then. Once that gap closes, in seven to five it really makes a difference on the scoreboard and the mentality and Cork sensed it then and you could sense that in the stadium that they sensed it and they kind of got after it more."This was Donegal's third home championship loss in the past 12 months after their Ulster SFC quarter-final defeat by Down in Letterkenny in April and last year's reverse to Tyrone. Although the blow is not fatal, it makes the road towards winning the Sam Maguire Cup a lot more difficult."It feels that way at t...