Gone in 110 seconds

Meath NFL Div 2 record ended in a Titanic battle in Cork

Cork............................1-3-17 (26)

Meath..........................1-2-17 (24)

In a contest of fine margins, Cork's scoring burst in a 110 second spell just before half-time proved to be decisive as Meath lost their perfect NFL Div 2 record following a narrow defeat in Pairc Ui Rinn on Sunday afternoon.

Trailing by just 0-11 to 0-12 after a pulsating opening 34 minutes against the stiff breeze, Meath quickly conceded 1-3 as Cork took a commanding advantage to the interval.

The hosts lost Ian Maguire to a straight red card in the 58th minute following an off the ball clash with Adam O'Neill, but couldn't capitalise and while they did have a late chance when Ciaran Caulfield's two-point attempt dropped into the hands of O'Neill, Cork defended well and won a free out just as the hooter sounded.

It was that type of day for Meath.

They will reflect with regret on a game of missed chances and what looked like a two-pointer for Jack O'Connor in the 44th minute, but ultimately Meath lacked the energy and flow that they have shown in previous games and Cork took full advantage of the acres of space they enjoyed in attacking positions.

Playing into a stiff breeze in the opening half, Meath were enterprising and entertaining, but too open in defence. Cork cut through for several decent goal chances, but were denied by poor finishing, good goalkeeping, last ditch defending or taking their point option.

After a very patient opening Aaron Lynch opened the scoring in the second minute, but Cork showed patience of their own to build an attack and wait for the two-point opportunity which Mark Cronin landed - Cork never trailed again.

Midfield malfunctioned for Meath in the opening half as they lost the battle of the kickouts and Cork's fast running game exploited gaps in the defence with Dara Sheedy fisting over to stretch the Rebel's lead to 0-3 to 0-1.

Ruairi Kinsella finished a fine move in response for Meath, but after Sean Brennan came to the rescue to deny Paul Walsh after a long ball bounced over the visiting defenders heads, Steven Sherlock converted the resultant '45'.

Another defensive error allowed Chris Og Jones stretch Cork's lead to 0-5 to 0-2, but a flurry of scores from Lynch, Jordan Morris and Kinsella in a two-minute spell dragged Meath level before the 15 minute mark.

Sheedy again exposed gaps in the Royal rearguard and after Seamus Lavin picked up a yellow card for a high challenge on Cronin Sherlock landed the simple free to make it 0-7 to 0-5.

Brennan kicked a two-point free that had been moved up to the edge of the arc following dissent by Colm O'Callaghan, but less than two minutes later Cronin responded with his second two-pointer.

Morris (two), one from a goal chance and one from a free, and Jack Flynn traded points with Jones, Sheedy and Maguire as Cork maintained their two-point cushion.

Meath countered quickly after Jones fisted an attempt against the upright and closed the gap to the minimum with Kinsella on target to make it 0-11 to 0-12 - but then disaster hit.

Jones found space in behind the Meath defence and finished to the net. A minute later Lavin lost possession and Cronin pointed and 50 seconds after that Sherlock kicked a two-pointer to ensure a 1-15 to 0-11 interval lead for Cork - the game got away from the Royals in 110 seconds.

Meath made the dream start to the second-half with Flynn pointing after 19 seconds and then 90 seconds later a little bit of Morris magic picked out Eoghan Frayne at the back post for a simple palmed goal.

With the wind at their backs and the deficit cut to 1-12 to 1-15 and 33 minutes still to play, Meath looked in a strong position, but Cork settled superbly.

Points from Jones and Luke Fahy, either side of the O'Connor score that should have raised an orange flag but was only credited with one, restored a four point cushion for Cork and after Morris missed a two-point attempt from a free, which Brennan probably should have taken,swe Cork hit the next two points from Sean McDonnell and Sheedy to make it 1-19 to 1-13.

Sean Coffey tagged on a point for Meath before James Conlon was denied a goal by a sensational block by Sean Meehan and on the counter-attack an up and under by Cronin was gathered by O'Callaghan and he pointed to put six between the sides again at the three-quarters mark.

Morris fired over a goal chance when he had an advantage for a free, but McDonnell replied with a fisted point. After that score the linesman drew the attention of referee Conor Dourneen to an off-the ball incident that happened before the score and Maguire was issued a red card.

Meath took advantage with Frayne pointing, but Cork remained a threat with McDonnell blasting over a goal chance to make it 1-22 to 1-16 with 10 minutes remaining.

Points from Ciaran Caulfield and O'Connor either side of a brilliant two-pointer from Frayne brought Meath back to within two points and there looked like only one winner at that stage.

With six minutes left on the clock Flynn pointed to leave the minimum between the sides, but Cork hit another point through Jones to leave Meath needing a two-pointer to rescue the game.

Caulfield tried for the two pointer as time ran out, but his effort fell short and while O'Neill scrambled to find the net Cork held on to claim the spoils.

Cork - Micheal A Martin; Maurice Shanley, Daniel O'Mahony, Tommy Walsh; Mattie Taylor, Sean Meehan, Luke Fahy (0-1); Colm O'Callaghan (0-1), Ian Maguire (0-1); Paul Walsh, Mark Cronin (0-5 two two-pointers), Sean McDonnell (0-3); Chris Og Jones (1-4), Dara Sheedy (0-4), Steven Sherlock (0-4 one two-pointer, one free, one '45'). Subs - Ruairi Deane for Walsh 54m, Sean Walsh for Sheedy 62m, Rory Maguire for Taylor 66m, David Buckley for O'Callaghan 67m, Kevin O'Donovan for Meehan 71m.

Meath - Sean Brennan (0-2 two-point free); Seamus Lavin, Ronan Ryan, Brian O'Halloran; Donal Keogan, Sean Coffey (0-1), Ciaran Caulfield (0-1); Bryan Menton, Cian McBride; Conor Duke, Ruairi Kinsella (0-3), Jack Flynn (0-3); Jordan Morris (0-4 one free), Eoghan Frayne (1-3 one two-pointer), Aaron Lynch (0-2). Subs - Adam O'Neill for McBride 34m, Jack O'Connor (0-2) for Duke half-time, James Conlon for Lynch 47m, Jason Scully for Ryan 60m.

Referee - Conor Dourneen (Cavan).