2023 Allianz Football League Division 2 – Meath 3-14 Cork 0-19

Meath defeated Cork by 3-14 to 0-19 in Round 1 of the Allianz Football League Division 2 on Sunday January 29th at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Match Highlights

Watch the Full-Time Highlights of Cork v Meath in the Allianz National Football League here!#GAANOW pic.twitter.com/ZvyOB1z1tc

— The GAA (@officialgaa) January 29, 2023

Second-half goals crucial as Meath beat Cork in league opener https://t.co/t6eBjIKFU2

— Irish Examiner Sport (@ExaminerSport) January 29, 2023

Second half goals crucial as Meath beat Cork in league opener

Meath 3-14 Cork 0-19

Report by Eoghan Cormican for the Irish Examiner newspaper

Away day delight for Colm O’Rourke and Meath. Opening round deflation for John Cleary and Cork.

Despite failing to lead this game between the eighth and 52nd minute, two second half goals were crucial in sending Meath back up the road with maximum points.

For Cork, their inability to make a winning start in Division 2 remains perfectly and unwantedly intact. Since dropping to the second division for the 2017 season, they have failed to win their opening round game in the six seasons since. The outlier during this period was the 2020 winning start in Division 3.

A significant problem in this latest opening round League setback was the complete lack of spread in terms of scorers. Steven Sherlock kicked all bar five of their 0-19 total. Failure to capitalise on even just one of their many goal chances also hurt the hosts.

Meath’s decisive burst came between the 52nd and 57th minute. During this five-minute spell, they kicked 1-4 without reply to move from three behind to four in front. Jordan Morris with the goal, Jason Scully with the assist.

Sherlock replied with a free. But then another Meath goal. Cillian O’Sullivan the provider. In 10 minutes, they had outscored the hosts 2-4 to 0-1.

At 3-12 to 0-15 in front, they would not be caught.

Cork had led 0-11 to 1-6 at the interval, seven of those 11 white flags coming from the boot of Sherlock.

It was a first half where Cork were the more dominant side, as evidenced by the fact that Meath managed only one score in the opening 17 minutes. Crucially, though, that score was a Shane Walsh goal, a green flag that kept Meath more than in the hunt at a time when they were second chair in most sectors of the field.

Cork’s use of possession in the opposition half of the field was too lateral. It lacked for incisiveness.

On one occasion where they did cut through, Sean Powter slipping Mattie Taylor inside the cover on 18 minutes, the latter’s goal shot was saved out for a ‘45 by Meath ‘keeper Harry Hogan.

His opposite number Michéal Aodh Martin was equally effective later in the half, producing a superb double save to deny Darragh Campion and Jordan Morris.

The goal chances were far more plentiful in the Meath ledger. And their final product was also sharper.

A positive start for Meath, Cork already under pressure.

Scorers for Meath: S Walsh (1-7, 0-2 frees, 0-2 marks); J Morris (1-2); C O’Sullivan (1-1); M Costello (0-2, 0-1 free); C Hickey, J O’Connor (0-1 each).

Scorers for Cork: S Sherlock (0-14, 0-10 frees, 0-1 45); C Óg Jones (0-2); M Shanley, M Taylor, S Powter (0-1 each).

Meath: H Hogan; J O’Hare, M Flood, C Hickey; E Harkin, D Keogan, D O’Neill; R Jones, D McGowan; D Campion, J Scully, C O’Sullivan; J Morris, M Costello, S Walsh.
Subs: S Crosby for McGowan (12-14, temporary); A O’Neill for D O’Neill (HT); J O’Connor for Harkin, H O’Higgins for O’Hare (both 48); D Moriarty for McGowan (53); S Crosby for O’Sullivan (66).

Cork: MA Martin; K O’Donovan, D O’Mahony, M Shanley; R Maguire, S Meehan, M Taylor; C O’Callaghan, I Maguire; E McSweeney, S Powter, B O’Driscoll; C Óg Jones, B Hurley, S Sherlock.
Subs: T Walsh for O’Donovan (44); J O’Rourke for McSweeney (53); L Fahy for Maguire (54); C O’Mahony for Sherlock (60); R Deane for Powter (66).

Referee: B Cawley (Kildare)

Live Streaming on TG4

Team News

CORK v Meath:

Micheál Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers);

Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty), Daniel O’Mahony (Knocknagree), Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers);

Sean Meehan (Kiskeam), Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), Matty Taylor (Mallow);

Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s);

Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree), Sean Powter (Douglas), Brian O’Driscoll (Tadhg Mac Carthaigh);

Chris Óg Jones (Iveleary), Brian Hurley (Castlehaven, c), Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: Chris Kelly (Éire Óg), Tommy Walsh (Kanturk), Luke Fahy (Ballincollig), Cian Kiely (Ballincollig), Shane Merritt (Mallow), Killian O’Hanlon (Kilshannig), John O’Rourke (Carbery Rangers), Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues), Conor Corbett (Clyda Rovers), Cathail O’Mahony (Mitchelstown), Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers).

MEATH v Cork:

1. Harry Hogan (Longwood);

2. Adam O’Neill (Wolfe Tones), 3. Michael Flood (St. Brigid’s), 4. Cathal Hickey (Seneschalstown);

5. Eoin Harkin (Dunsany), 6. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny), 7. Daniel O’Neill (Wolfe Tones);

8. Ronan Jones (St. Peter’s Dunbyone), 9. Daithí McGowan (Ratoath);

10. Cillian O’Sullivan (Moynalvey), 11. Jason Scully (Oldcastle), 12. Darragh Campion (Skryne);

13. Jordan Morris (Kingscourt Stars, Cavan), 14. Mathew Costello (Dunshaughlin), 15. Shane Walsh (Na Fianna).