Cork and Meath show contrasting approach to two-pointers

Five two-pointers across the opening fortnight, one from a Steven Sherlock placed ball to save Cork against Cavan, one each from Brian Hurley and Sean McDonnell, and two more in the win over Louth from Sherlock.

Cork used the orange flag to their advantage in the first two games, but, against Offaly, they hardly looked for it.

The first half played into the gale demanded a pragmatic approach from Cork, and they excellend in that regard. But, even when the wind changed hands and Cork had the gale at their backs, they attempted barely any two-pointers after the break and didn't land one all day. They would finish with just three attempts, one short, two wide.

The conditions were tricky, no question. Neither side raised an orange flag against the wind, but they were both relatively unsuccessful with it, too. Of nine attempts outside the 40-metre paint, Offaly only scored two.

For Cork, Sherlock, Mark Cronin and Chris Óg Jones – all capable from range – were all quieter than usual when it came to testing the orange flag.

When it comes to the overall picture in Division 2 for two-point shooting, Cork sit sixth in the standings with five orange flags raised in three games, behind Meath (10), Offaly (9), Louth (8), Tyrone (6) and Kildare (6).

Offaly have kicked the most from play with eight of their nine, but with total two-point scores, Meath have been utterly relentless. The Royal county have kicked 10 two-pointers in three games – four from frees – while Jack Flynn alone has four to his name.

Sunday's game at Páirc Uí Rinn will be fascinating for that reason. Meath hunt two-pointers obsessively, even when the percentages don't favour them, as they did on several occasions last year. Crucially, though, Robbie Brennan will likely be without Matthew Costello, the man who torched Cork in Páirc Tailteann during last year’s All-Ireland series clash and the source of two of their orange flags this year.

Cork have shown they can target the orange flag, but primarily only when it suits them. Perhaps that will be of benefit to John Cleary’s charges on Sunday. They know what way Meath are going to approach them, and home advantage should help here.