Impressive second-half showing from Royal rebel-rousers

ALL-IRELAND SFC

Meath ...........1-0-13 (16)

Cork............... 0-2-8 (12)

A significantly improved second-half performance was the catalyst for Meath to open their All-Ireland SFC series with victory over Cork at Pairc Tailteann today.

Turning with the wind in their faces for the second period and with a three-point cushion, below-par Meath looked in trouble, especially when that advantage was wiped out within three minutes following Matty Taylor's fisted score and a superb two-pointer from Colm O'Callaghan.

However, with their backs to the wall, Meath found another gear and totally dominated the closing 30 minutes, outscoring wind-assisted Cork by 0-8 to 0-4 with a display full of heart and desire.

That certainly didn't look to be the case in the opening half as wasteful Meath kicked seven wides, including five two-point attempts (they also dropped two other efforts short), and Cork won the midfield battle to put themselves in a strong position.

There were only three scores in the opening 22 minutes as a '45' from Billy Hogan and a converted free from Eoghan Frayne cancelled out Mark Cronin's opening score in the seventh minute from a free which was awarded as Meath didn't keep three players in their attacking half.

Despite the low scoring the opening stages saw plenty of chances with Ruairi Kinsella, Jordan Morris and Frayne (twice) all squandering decent two-point opportunities.

Cathail O'Mahony was denied a goal when Billy Hogan got a big boot to the tame shot and on the counter-attack James Conlon was denied a goal when his diving punched attempt was well saved by Micheal Martin.

Paul Walsh also almost crept in for a goal as he rounded Hogan, but Sean Rafferty, who was outstanding throughout, cleared the poor finish off the line.

After only three scores in the opening 22 minutes there was a feast in the closing 13 minutes as three points from Chris Og Jones and a free from Cronin moved Cork into an unexpected 0-5 to 0-2 lead.

Conor Duke and Jack Flynn dropped shots short for Meath before the excellent Mathew Costello started to find his groove, boosted by a fine point following great work by Morris and Bryan Menton.

Back within two points, Meath were then further boosted by a bit of Morris magic as he benefitted from great work by Seamus Lavin and Ciaran Caulfield before firing an unstoppable goal.

Costello quickly added his second point before Frayne landed a free after the hooter to turn a three-point deficit into a 1-5 to 0-5 interval lead.

That tenuous advantage was wiped out by Taylor and O'Callaghan's two-pointer, but instead of buckling Meath produced a superb closing 30 minutes which was backboned by hunger, desire and determination.

After Frayne's 20 metre free edged Meath into a lead which they didn't relinquish again, both sides hit the woodwork with Jones firing against the post from a difficult angle, while Frayne struck the upright with a point attempt.

Kinsella dropped another shot short for the hosts, while Keith Curtis had a poor wide, but despite those misses, Meath never panicked and showed superb control of the contest.

Costello and Conlon restored the half-time three-point cushion with points, before a touch of class from Morris made it 1-9 to 0-8 on the three-quarter mark.

Cronin missed a two-point attempt which could have settled Cork and from that let-off Sean Coffey added to Meath's tally following Costello's mark and Cathal Hickey's clever pass.

As the rain lashed down Cork injected some urgency and closed the gap to 0-12 to 1-10 with points from Ruairi Deane and Jones either side of a two-pointer from Cronin - they were in the ascendancy, but Meath quickly regained control.

Costello converted a valuable free after Morris was fouled and Conlon added another point before bowing out with an empty tank.

With a three-point lead restored Meath defended heroically. Every man put their shoulder to the wheel and Kinsella executed a magnificent block to deny dangerman Brian O'Driscoll a certain two-pointer.

As the regular clocked ticked into injury-time Costello capped his superb performance with the insurance score and Meath held onto possession well until the remaining four and a half minutes were played out to secure a crucial win, a first in four attempts at this All-Ireland SFC series stage.

Meath - Billy Hogan (0-1 '45'); Seamus Lavin, Sean Rafferty, Ronan Ryan; Donal Keogan, Sean Coffey (0-1), Ciaran Caulfield; Jack Flynn, Bryan Menton; Conor Duke, Ruairi Kinsella, Mathew Costello (0-5 one free); Jordan Morris (1-1), James Conlon (0-2), Eoghan Frayne (0-3 frees). Subs - Adam O'Neill for Flynn, Keith Curtis for Frayne both 45m, Cathal Hickey for Duke 50m, Shane Walsh for Conlon 67m.

Cork - Micheal Aodh Martin; Sean Meehan, Daniel O'Mahony, Maurice Shanley; Brian O'Driscoll, Eoghan McSweeney, Matty Taylor (0-1); Ian Maguire, Colm O'Callaghan (0-2 two-pointer); Paul Walsh, Sean Powter, Sean McDonnell; Mark Cronin (0-4 two frees, one two-pointer), Cathail O'Mahony, Chris Og Jones (0-4). Subs - Rory Maguire for McSweeney, Ruairi Deane (0-1) for Powter both 50m, Eanna O'Hanlon for C O'Mahoney 58m, Conor Cahalane for Walsh 65m, Luke Fahy for Taylor 67m, Hugh O'Connor for Cronin 74m.

Referee - Noel Mooney (Cavan).