Analysis: Ref didn't do Cork any favours against Meath but kick-out issues and missed goal chances key

A frustrating outing at Croke Park for Cork.

It was another big game where they had the chances to get the job done but came up short.

Chris Óg Jones, who was to the fore across the 70 minutes, tucked in a fine goal early in the second half but had spurned two chances in the first period. Those came back to haunt Cork.

Meath just about deserved it on reflection. Not enough marquee players in red were at their best, though Jones and Sherlock were constant threats and combined for 1-12. 

Daniel O’Mahony was teak-tough at the back while Maurice Shanley and Paul Walsh performed very well. Otherwise, it was a case of solid rather than the spectacular required for a first victory at Jones Road since 2015.

Cork had issues throughout on their kick-outs, particularly in the second half when Meath went from three points down to five in front. Midfield duo Colm O’Callaghan and Ian Maguire weren’t as dominant as they’d been in the key games that secured promotion.

Meath started brightly, having learned from the meeting at Páirc Uí Rinn, where they let Cork gain the upper hand aerially and pick up early momentum. 

A pair of Kinsella two-pointers made it 0-4 to 0-1 and it was 0-8 to 0-5 after a high press on two Patrick Doyle restarts yielded a pair of converted frees. That would become even more of a factor in the second half.

DEVASTATING

Sherlock got into his groove in the second quarter, landing a sweet score after a brilliant burst from Shanley and a trademark curler from outside the arc, in a devastating spell that saw him arrow five of his nine points. 

Cork led 0-12 to 0-10 at the break and with Jones’ goal soon after the resumption looked in the box seat, though Jack O’Connor raised a green flag in response with a stunning finish.

The next phase of the game was disastrous for John Cleary’s charges. Meath’s squeeze on Doyle’s kick-outs, as they lost eight from nine, meant Cork were hemmed in. That led to a 16-minute scoring drought as the Royals went from 1-16 to 1-13 behind to 1-21 to 1-16 ahead.

Sub James Conlon caused Cork’s full-back line real problems with his pace and energy and he had four points off the bench. 

While Brian Hurley buried a goal, Cork didn't get a comparable lift from their subs.

Hurley’s effort offered Cork a lifeline coming down the stretch as it trimmed the gap to two points. Forcing extra time was beyond Cork. Meath’s rearguard was resolute in the closing stages but the second half overall. 

They were acutely aware of Sherlock’s two-point threat and overall only conceded one while raising four orange flags of their own, another match-winning aspect of their display.

By the same token, Meath certainly benefited from some marginal calls by Kerry referee Brendan Griffin, who only awarded one free to Cork within the scoring zone and that was for dissent after a sideline.

Still, they're Division 2 champions and Cork need to learn their lessons with Munster starting in mid-April.