Ryan McHugh was influential for Donegal.
All Ireland SFC Round 4B Qualifier
Donegal 0-21 Cork 1-15
By Paul Keane at Croke Park
Paddy McBrearty's 11-point haul proved crucial as Donegal bounced back from their Ulster final heartache to set up a mouthwatering All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Dublin.
Rory Gallagher's side had to dig deep, though, as underdogs Cork conjured a strong display after a difficult season that yielded Allianz league relegation and a shock Munster championship defeat to Tipperary.
The Rebels were right in late on and led by two with 17 minutes remaining, but had no answer to Donegal's strong finish.
A six-in-a-row of Donegal points including three from the excellent McBrearty ultimately eased the 2012 All-Ireland winners through to the last eight.
Aside from McBrearty, Ryan McHugh was excellent with three points while another McHugh, Eoin, scored two important points.
Donegal will need a significant improvement to overcome the Dubs though they're still alive at least.
Cork have now missed out on an All-Ireland quarter-final spot for the second year running having contested one in each of the previous 10 seasons.
Donegal set up in traditional defensive fashion and got 14 men behind the ball from the off when defending, leaving McBrearty alone up front.
Yet it opened out into a surprisingly attacking and exciting affair with both sides profiting from counter attacking movements.
Cork dominated the first quarter and led 1-6 to 0-4 after 18 minutes. Peadar Healy's side shook off a patchy season so far with some of their best football in this period.
Donegal face Dublin at Croke Park next Saturday.
Defenders Tom Clancy (Fermoy) and Sean Powter bombed forward for Cork points and Paul Kerrigan curled in a beautiful goal.
The vastly experienced Nemo Rangers man took on Clancy's pass, cut inside Neil McGee and curled a right footed shot beyond Mark Anthony McGinley to the right corner.
It was reminiscent of Cork's excellent start against Dublin here in the Allianz league though Donegal came roaring back into the game in the next 15 minutes or so.
Eoin McHugh began a blitz of points that ended with Donegal outscoring Cork by 0-7 to 0-1 between the 21st and 32nd minutes.
It was superb football as Donegal attacked at pace, weaving some spectacular passing moves and, for the most, finding McBrearty at the end of those moves to take scores.
Donegal led 0-11 to 1-7 after 32 minutes but Cork finished the half strong with Clancy's second point and one from Donncha O'Connor to lead 1-9 to 0-11 at the break.
Aidan Walsh came on for Cork late in the first-half, replacing the injured Alan O'Connor. It was Walsh's first football action in exactly two years having joined the hurling setup for 2015.
The sides were level on a number of occasions in the third quarter as both sides did their best to move clear.
McBrearty and Ryan McHugh scored some excellent points for Donegal while Walsh hit a score for Cork who led 1-14 to 0-15 after 53 minutes.
But Donegal showed their hunger for progression with those six points on the trot to advance impressively. McBrearty picked up a black card in the 76th minute for a drag down, but was afforded a huge ovation as he walked off.
Scorers for Donegal: P McBrearty 0-11 (4fs), R McHugh 0-3, E McHugh 0-2, M Murphy 0-2 (1f), K Lacey 0-1, F McGlynn 0-1, O MacNiallais 0-1.
Scorers for Cork: P Kerrigan 1-1, D O'Connor 0-2, K O'Driscoll 0-2, T Clancy (Clonakilty) 0-2, C O'Driscoll 0-2, C O'Neill 0-2 (1f), S Powter 0-1, M Collins 0-1, T Clancy (Fermoy) 0-1, A Walsh 0-1.
Donegal: MA McGinley; P McGrath, E McGee, N McGee; K Lacey, M O'Reilly, F McGlynn; O MacNiallais, M Murphy; A Thompson, M McElhinney, E McHugh; R Kavanagh, P McBrearty, R McHugh.
Subs: C Gillespie for E McGee (43), L McLoone for Kavanagh (46), C Toye for Thompson (55), M McHugh for McGlynn (61), E Doherty for N McGee (68), H McFadden for MacNiallais (71). McBrearty BC 76, not replaced.
Cork: R Price; S Cronin, E Cadogan, T Clancy (Clonakilty); C O'Driscoll, S Powter, T Clancy (Fermoy); A O'Connor, I Maguire; K O'Driscoll, M Collins, M Hurley; D O'Connor, P Kelleher, P Kerrigan.
Subs: A Walsh for A O'Connor (35+1), P Kelly for Kelleher (42), C O'Neill for D O'Connor (47), B O'Driscoll for Clancy (Clonakilty) (48), J O'Rourke for K O'Driscoll (62), A Cadogan for Powter (68).
Referee: P Neilan (Roscommon).
