Squad depth key to Meath's win over Cork says manager Robbie Brennan 

Meath manager Robbie Brennan felt his side were deserving winners over Cork at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Royals produced another strong second-half showing this year to win the Allianz Division 2 Football League title on a scoreline of 1-22 to 2-17.

“It's a funny kind of game to analyse, it swung this way and that,” he said post-match.

“One of those kind of ones that were up and down. We started well and then came off it a little bit. That has been a bit of a theme I think, probably throughout the league. We did enough after half-time to win the game, I feel. 

“Looking overall, the overriding feeling is just delight for the lads to pick up a bit of silverware. We were quite fortunate only to be two points behind at half-time. 

"There were some things we did well in the first half. I thought we scrambled well at times and things like that but it was just the onus on the lads then to see if they could come out and put a good 35 together.

“It was really encouraging for them the way they finished the game out, I thought it was really good.” 

Cork were in a decent enough position at half-time leading by two points and there were periods after the break where the Rebels looked like they would prevail.

“There was three or four key things we were looking for beforehand around minding the ball and trying to play with pace and things like that so we kind of just went after them a little bit more at half-time and we did those in the second half,” Brennan says.

“It’s that big thing, that momentum thing. If you get it and you can keep it for as long as you can, I think it’s a very hard thing to break and you’ve probably seen examples of that this year.

“You get those opportunities to try and fill your boots as much as you possibly can. I think it was eight scores in a row we got was it in the second half? Yeah, some of it was just breaks and being in the right position and a bit of want.” 

The substitutes had a major impact on the victory for Meath most notably James Conlon’s contribution of 0-4. While Brian Hurley goaled when introduced for the Rebels, the Leinster side got greater joy from their lads coming off the bench.

“We had our team meeting earlier before we came down and we highlighted the guys on the bench. We just looked at them and said, ‘My God, they’d get in any squad in the country.' It's great. 

“That’s a sign of how strong we are. I think the impact off the bench is really good. If we could have brought anybody on, they would have made the same kind of impact.” the Meath boss concluded.