Cork v Meath: Verdict on new rules and footballers bright start

Cork against Meath was never going to be the ultimate barometer of success for Gaelic football's new rules – or ‘rule enhancements’ in their marketing speak.

These two sides had played out an open and exciting 0-19 to 3-14 League opener at Páirc Uí Chaoimh two years ago but the rule changes made for interesting and entertaining watching nonetheless.

In terms of scores alone, Cork raised an equal number of flags (two green, two orange, and 15 white, or in the new notation, 2-2-15) compared to that game while Meath registered three more, just without the goals (0-1-19).

The primary disappointment of the new scoring structure was that neither Cork nor Meath landed a two-pointer from play and got that roar from the crowd.

Paul Walsh appeared to have landed one from under the South Stand approaching half-time but after some consultation and much protests, from players and fans, the officials decreed that he had tiptoed onto the line before shooting.

Even from the elevated view afforded by the upper tier, it was hard to reach consensus judgements on what was inside or outside so some sympathy has to be extended to the referee.

Indeed, the new rules demand respect for the refs through a series of severe punishments although both the Rebels and Royals carried themselves with sufficient decorum to avoid transgressing.

There were three successful two-point frees, two of which were for Cork via Brian O'Driscoll and Mark Cronin.

A couple of notes here. In Brian Hurley's absence, O'Driscoll had a solid first outing on the right-footed frees.

It was also good to see Hurley and Ian Maguire doing some running on the 4G pre-match as they work their way back to fitness.

Both two-point frees were especially important for their timing. O'Driscoll's first-half effort slingshot Cork from one point behind to one ahead and they extended that momentum with the next pair to open up the first significant gap between the sides.

Cronin's second turned a one-point gap into a three-point cushion and Cork, again, put the hammer down to complete a game-winning 1-5 burst.

The rule to keep three players in the opposing half suffered two innocuous breaches, one for each side. But while Mathew Costello settled for the tap-over free from the 14-metre line, Cronin was clever in taking the option to move the ball back outside the 40-metre arc for his successful two-pointer.

Cork and Meath generally left the same three attackers and defenders in position, which provided intriguing man-on-man battles. Meath's front trio of Jordan Morris, Costello, and Shane Walsh landed 0-9 from play but Cork were more reliant on Chris Óg Jones for his 1-4.

The rule certainly opened up the possibility of quicker kick-passing attacks. The best example was O'Driscoll's mark from an opposition kick-out followed by a gorgeous floated pass over the cover for Jones to convert.

PRESSED HIGH

With kick-outs needing to clear the 40-metre arc, both sides pressed high and forced their opponents long. Cork chose to persist with their usual overload tactic, creating a forest of bodies on one flank.

But because Meath didn't have to press all the way to the 21, they had more men to contest breaks and Cork could only retain 14 of their 32 restarts. Against that 43% rate, Meath held onto 57% of their kick-outs.

Both sides pushed their goalkeeper forward to manufacture 12-on-11 situations in the opposition half. Adventurous Meath stopper Billy Hogan was most effective. He collected a couple of assists and had three shots at the posts, scoring one.

The solo-and-go free was well utilised by both teams in the middle third and the one-v-one throw-in to start either half was certainly tidier, as Colm O'Callaghan and Bryan Menton split the spoils, if not majorly consequential. The new advanced mark, only awarded inside the 21 now, did not occur.

The goal is somewhat devalued since the idea of awarding four points for finding the net was scrapped but opportunities remain.

With players so conscious of defending the arc and given only 11 defenders to do so, there was plenty of space left in behind which Cork exploited for three goal chances to Meath's one. The scoring changes kept the end game closer too.

Had Costello converted his late two-point free, which he was allowed to bring outside the arc after Patrick Doyle was pulled for taking too long over a kick-out, it would've gone from a five-point gap to a one-score game.

Ultimately, this game wasn't decided by new rules. It was decided by good old-fashioned shooting accuracy.

Cork had no wide across the final hour while Meath converted just half of their 40 attempts.

By comparison, Cork only missed four shots for an 83% conversion rate – and one of those rebounds was finished to the net.