Huge victory for Cork footballers as 14-man Rebels edge past Meath 

Cork: 1-23 (1-3-17) 

Meath: 1-21 (1-2-17) 

A gigantic victory for 14-man Cork in their quest to gain promotion this year after a gritty two-point triumph over Meath at a bouncing Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday afternoon.

The Rebels have now recorded a fourth win from their first four games in the Allianz Division 2 Football League with a return to the top tier for the first time since 2016 now a real possibility.

John Cleary’s side certainly had a bit of luck on their side, but they did deserve these two points on offer on the balance of play in front of 6,223.

The winning of this game came just before the short whistle. With the game in the balance with Cork a point ahead, they hit 1-3 without reply to lead by seven points when the half-time whistle arrived.

The home side had to play with 14 players for the final 13 minutes following an Ian Maguire red card, but they did really well to keep their opposition at bay.

In saying that, Meath could have stolen it at the death, but Luke Fahy had a heroic block to deny the Royals from raising a green flag.

There were two changes to the Cork team from the one that was named on Friday night. Seán Meehan came in for Rory Maguire in defence while Ian Maguire replaced Seán Walsh in the middle of the field.

The Rebels had a strong enough wind advantage for the first half, but it was Meath who got the first score courtesy of a point from Aaron Lynch following patient play.

Cork’s response was excellent, Mark Cronin landed a two-pointer followed by a Dara Sheedy fisted effort.

Ruairí Kinsella pointed for the away side before Cleary’s charges had a great goal chance after six minutes. Paul Walsh couldn’t beat Meath netminder Seán Brennan.

The ball did spill out for a 45, which Steven Sherlock duly converted.

Chris Óg Jones opened up a three-point buffer, but it was wiped out within minutes when the Royals put together three unanswered white flags, 0-5 each after 15 minutes.

Midfielders Colm O’Callaghan and Ian Maguire were helping Cork gain a foothold as Sheedy and a Sherlock free settled the Rebels after a shaky period.

A two-point free from Meath’s goalkeeper Brennan drew his team level in what was a right ding-dong battle between two excellent sides.

An outstanding Cronin orange flag once more handed Cork a two-point lead before the teams traded the next four points, 0-11 to 0-9 after 23 minutes.

The game remained right in the balance in the closing stages of the opening half.

Meath kicked two of the next three points before Cork put on the afterburners.

Jones goaled from close range two minutes before the interval after great work by O’Callaghan and Maguire in the build-up.

It was followed by a Cronin effort and a beauty of a two-pointer from Sherlock, 1-15 to 0-11 at half-time.

Meath were wind-assisted for the new half and got off to a quick start with a Jack Flynn point from an acute angle followed by an Eoghan Frayne goal after a clever pass from Jordan Morris, 1-15 to 1-12 after 37 minutes.

A Jones white flag was much-needed for Cork to stem the tide. Meath sub Jack O’Connor left three points in it as the game remained on a knife-edge.

Fahy, Seán McDonnell and Sheedy points pushed the Rebels six clear with 21 minutes left, 1-19 to 1-13.

Seán Coffey pointed for Meath until Meehan denied the Royals from bagging a goal after an incredible block to stop sub James Conlon from scoring.

The sides swapped points before McDonnell pushed Cork six points clear.

A potentially crucial moment arrived after 56 minutes when Ian Maguire received a straight red for an off the ball incident.

Meath landed two of the next three points as Cork led 1-22 to 1-17 after 61 minutes.

A Frayne two-pointer and another O’Connor point left Meath two points behind.

Cork though steadied even if a Flynn effort left the bare minimum in it.

A Jones point was the last score of an incredible contest.

Fahy though saved the day to deny Adam O'Neill from scoring a goal.

Scorers for Cork: C Óg Jones 1-4, M Cronin 0-5 (2 2pt), S Sherlock (1 2pt, 0-1 45, 0-1 f), D Sheedy 0-4 each, S McDonnell 0-3, L Fahy, C O’Callaghan, I Maguire 0-1 each.

Meath: E Frayne 1-3 (1 2pt), J Morris 0-4 (0-1 f), J Flynn, R Kinsella 0-3 each, S Brennan (1 2pt), J O’Connor, A Lynch 0-2 each, S Coffey, C Caulfield 0-1 each.

CORK: M A Martin; M Shanley, D O’Mahony, S Meehan; M Taylor, T Walsh, L Fahy; C O’Callaghan, I Maguire (c); P Walsh, D Sheedy, S McDonnell; M Cronin, C Óg Jones, S Sherlock.

Subs: R Deane for P Walsh (54), S Walsh for D Sheedy (60), R Maguire for M Taylor (63), D Buckley for C O’Callaghan (64), K O’Donovan for S Meehan (68).

MEATH: S Brennan; S Lavin, R Ryan, B O’Halloran; D Keogan, S Coffey, C Caulfield; B Menton, J Flynn; C Duke, R Kinsella, C McBride; J Morris, E Frayne (c), A Lynch.

Subs: A O’Neill for C McBride (35), J O’Connor for C Duke (h-t), J Conlon for A Lynch (47), J Scully for R Ryan (59).

Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).