Cork have evolved into a "different animal" with no fear of anyone left in the football championship, according to midfielder Colm O'Callaghan.
The Rebels could have panicked when six points down against Mayo but O’Callaghan’s solo surge earned a penalty which turned the tide.
They will need to show similar determination if they are to take another Division 1 scalp when Roscommon travel to Páirc Uí Chaoimh for a preliminary quarter-final on Saturday.
"A few years ago, it might’ve been a case where we dropped the heads but we’re a different team now, a different animal," said O’Callaghan. "We like to think so anyway and we really drove on from there.
"The next play we responded with a goal straight away so it got us back on track again.
"We were flat to the mat till the end. Looking around, there was a small bit left in the tank. We were nearly there, in fairness, we left it all out on the pitch.
"Beating Mayo by three points isn’t easy and I’m just very proud of everyone on the team."
That resilience had been seen throughout the group stage. In the final 12 minutes of those three games, they outscored Louth and Kerry by three points and blitzed Mayo for 1-06 without reply.
"Our mental attitude now is a lot stronger. We believe in each other. We’re fit enough, we’re strong enough.
"We’ve shown that we can do it against the bigger teams. Just belief in each other is the main thing."
It has been a major turnaround since losing late against Clare in their Munster quarter-final, a result which left them at risk of tumbling into the Tailteann Cup.
"There was no one dropped the heads. We all stuck together. We knew there was potential in the group and we’re here now," said O’Callaghan.
"We trained like dogs for the five-week block after the Clare game and it did us the world of good.
"We dug out a win against Louth, you could say we were a bit unlucky against Kerry, our shot percentage wasn’t hectic, but look, we dug deep and we got the three-point win that we needed.
"There was probably a lot of people that weren’t expecting us to do it but everyone inside in the dressing room definitely all 100% believed we could beat Mayo.
"The aim was three points and we got there so yeah, a home game again. Hopefully, we can draw a bit of support as well."
Confidence was never an issue for this Cork side, says O’Callaghan, but he was relieved to produce a performance on the big day.
"It (beating Mayo) wouldn’t have a massive impact on the confidence really. We are a confident side. We know what we are capable of.
"It is a bit refreshing to see that we showed what we are capable of.
"Obviously, it’s a boost and the home advantage is massive as well in the next game but we knew what we were capable of beforehand and it was great to be able to show it."
That confidence means Cork have no fear when it comes to playing these Division 1 sides.
"I don’t think we’d fear any team we come up against now in the next few games and hopefully it will be a few more games, that’s the plan.
"We know what we’re capable of. We’re able to squeeze out games until the bitter end so there’ll be no fear of anyone.
"Next Saturday now, that’s what it’s all about. We’ll prepare accordingly this week and please God, we’ll get through."
Watch Galway v Mayo in the All-Ireland Football Championship on Sunday from 3pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live updates on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
