Cork footballers fall short to Meath in entertaining Division 2 league final
Dara Sheedy of Cork in action against Eoghan Frayne of Meath. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Disappointment for Cork after falling short against Meath in the Allianz Division 2 Football League final at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.
John Cleary’s side will have regrets about this one having been up two points at half-time. The Rebels were in control in that first 35 minutes and arguably should have had more of a cushion with two big goal chances going begging.
Meath’s accuracy and bench-press proved important factors in claiming silverware for the Leinster outfit as an improved display did the trick for them.
In saying that, Cork still had their moments but Meath had enough about them to get over the line.
The Rebels' wait to win at GAA HQ will continue, it’s 2015 since the last time they have won at the big house.
Cork hit the front after two minutes through a Paul Walsh point after good work by Steven Sherlock in the build-up.
Meath responded with a pair of Ruairí Kinsella two-pointers as he was given too much space. Cork did reply with three of the next four points with Chris Óg Jones, Colm O’Callaghan and Steven Sherlock slotting over the Rebels’ efforts.
Cork then had a glorious goal chance after 12 minutes. A peach of a pass from Seán McDonnell set up Jones but the latter was unable to find the net as his effort went narrowly wide from an acute angle.
The Uibh Laoire forward did draw the Rebels level at 0-5 each after 15 minutes with Luke Fahy and Ian Maguire on a pile of ball around the middle giving Cork a launchpad.
A Jordan Morris effort and a two-point free from goalkeeper Seán Brennan gave Meath a three-point advantage.
A pair of Sherlock white flags, one coming from a free, left Cork one point behind before the same player sent over a splendid two-pointer to give the Rebels the lead again, 0-9 to 0-8 after 21 minutes.
Jones pushed it out to two. In a right ding-dong battle where the periods of dominance changed regularly, the sides swapped points as the game remained finely poised.
Cork’s tails were up. Paul Walsh pointed before Jones had another chance to get a goal but his shot went wide from an awkward angle as we entered the closing stages of the first 35 minutes.
Morris left Meath two points behind at half-time, 0-12 to 0-10. Cork would have been relatively happy going into the dressing room even if they could have been further clear.
Meath levelled within one minute of the new half through a Jack O’Connor two-pointer, but at the third time of asking, Jones goaled for Cork after being set up by Paul Walsh. A tidy finish too as he rounded the goalkeeper to slot home.
O’Callaghan pushed the Leesiders four points clear as they looked to claim a vice-like grip, 1-13 to 0-12.
Cork netminder Patrick Doyle made a fine reflex stop to deny Ciarán Caulfield what looked like a certain goal as the ball dribbled out for a 45.
Brennan converted it before O’Connor levelled the encounter with a rasper into the roof of the Cork net after 42 minutes.
Mark Cronin steadied the Rebels as they once more went in front, 1-14 to 1-13. A pair of Sherlock points brought a huge cheer from the sizeable Cork contingent.
Neither team could take proper control. Two quick-fire Meath white flags left the bare minimum in it with 18 minutes to go.
A free from Eoghan Frayne drew Meath level as the momentum was starting to swing their way again.
Two James Conlon efforts nudged the Royals 1-18 to 1-16 ahead.
They were starting to flex their muscles as a pair of Frayne frees put Meath into the driving seat after 60 minutes.
Caulfield extended it to five before Sherlock bisected the posts for a much-needed score. Cork’s first score in 16 minutes, 1-21 to 1-17.
Conlon pointed before sub Brian Hurley billowed the back of the net with an excellent finish to keep the Rebels firmly in touch with six minutes to go.
The green flag gave the Leesiders an extra spring. They were probing for a two-point effort but nothing came to fruition.
Conlon picked up a black card right at the end, it didn’t matter to them. Meath held on.
J O’Connor 1-2 (1 2pt), R Kinsella 0-5 (2 2pt), J Conlon 0-4, S Brennan (1 2pt f, 0-1 45), E Frayne (0-3 f), J Morris (0-1 f) 0-3 each, C Caulfield, A Lynch 0-1 each.
S Sherlock 0-9 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), C Óg Jones 1-3, B Hurley 1-0, P Walsh, C O’Callaghan 0-2 each, M Cronin 0-1.
S Brennan; S Lavin, S Rafferty, B O’Halloran; D Keogan, S Coffey, C Caulfield; B Menton, J Flynn; J O’Connor, R Kinsella, C McBride; J Morris, E Frayne (c), A Lynch.
K Curtis for E Frayne (4-8, temp), J Conlon for A Lynch (42), R Ryan for S Lavin (45), C Hickey for C McBride (50), K Smyth for B O’Halloran (52), O Martin for J O’Connor (60).
P Doyle; M Shanley, S Meehan, D O’Mahony; B O’Driscoll, T Walsh, L Fahy; C O’Callaghan, I Maguire (c); P Walsh, D Sheedy, S McDonnell; M Cronin, C Óg Jones, S Sherlock.
B Hurley for D Sheedy (43), K O’Donovan for M Shanley (50-52, temp), R Deane for S McDonnell (52), S Walsh for M Cronin (55), R Maguire for L Fahy (57).
Brendan Griffin (Kerry).
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