Epic comeback win for Cork footballers after classic with Meath

Cork: 0-30 (0-6-18) 

Meath: 1-24 (1-6-12) 

Just what the doctor ordered, as 14-man Cork delivered a huge second-half performance to defeat Meath in the All-Ireland SFC Round 1 encounter at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening.

After the disappointment in both performance and result in the Munster final loss to Kerry, the Rebels had to dig very deep here on what was another famous day at the Boreenmanna Road venue.

The Leesiders trailed by eight points at half-time and were then reduced to 14 players after 50 minutes following a harsh Colm O’Callaghan red card. 

John Cleary’s side were tenacious, aggressive and showed real quality to navigate past the Royals in the second 35 minutes in one of Cork football’s biggest wins in a long time.

They were roared on by a boisterous home crowd and inspired by a masterclass from Steven Sherlock, who finished with 0-14.

The Leesiders now progress to Round 2A in three weeks, with the draw to take place in due course.

There was one change to the Cork team named on Friday, with David Buckley replacing Ruairí Deane.

It was a lively start, James Conlon pointing for Meath before Maurice Shanley fisted over for Cork. The sides traded scores before Paul Walsh nudged the Rebels back in front in what was an end-to-end opening.

Ruairí Kinsella levelled for Meath, and Cork were relieved it was only that, as it could easily have been a green flag — 0-3 apiece after nine minutes.

An orange flag from a free by Royals goalkeeper Seán Brennan pushed Meath two clear, only for it to be cancelled out a minute later by a Steven Sherlock two-point free.

Cork needed someone to take control, and they tacked on two points in succession before a glorious goal chance after 19 minutes. Mark Cronin’s effort struck the post when it looked destined for the net, albeit Brennan got a crucial touch.

A Kinsella orange flag restored parity before Conlon kicked another two-pointer for the Leinster side, 0-9 to 0-7 after 21 minutes.

A Sherlock 45 and a free ensured the sides were level once more.

Jordan Morris pointed for Meath before Luke Fahy had a goal chance for Cork, his effort cleared off the line by a scrambling defence.

Meath, though, were beginning to get a grip. A Frayne orange flag and a tidy finish to the net from Ciarán Caulfield pushed them 1-12 to 0-9 ahead with seven minutes to the break.

Another Frayne two-pointer helped Meath into a 1-16 to 0-10 lead as they dominated key areas, including on kick-outs.

A Chris Óg Jones point was timely for Cork, but they regressed as the half wore on. Meath could have put the game almost out of reach, but Seán Coffey’s goal-bound effort was brilliantly stopped by O’Callaghan. It was 1-16 to 0-11 at the interval.

Cork required a strong start to the new half and got the first score through a Buckley point.

The teams exchanged white flags until a Cronin orange flag from a free cut the gap to five, 1-17 to 0-15 after 39 minutes.

A Sherlock free, a Buckley two-pointer and a Cronin effort left Cork just a single point behind.

Two wonder orange flags from Sherlock completed the turnaround as the Rebels moved 0-23 to 1-17 ahead after 46 minutes.

Cork were a completely different team in this half. They led 0-25 to 1-20 with 20 minutes remaining, Sherlock again central.

But O’Callaghan then received a straight red card for a high challenge on Kinsella, leaving Cork down to 14. A poor call by the referee Brendan Cawley. 

An Eoghan Frayne free reduced the deficit to one before Daniel O’Mahony popped over an inspirational point for Cork.

Two quick Meath points levelled matters, 1-23 to 0-26 after 59 minutes, before a Cronin free edged Cork back in front.

Ian Maguire then thought he had scored a vital goal, but it was ruled out for a square ball.

Kinsella levelled again with eight minutes to go. An incredible Sherlock two-pointer lifted the roof off the famous stadium as Cork went two clear, 0-29 to 1-24.

Cork defended magnificently in the closing stages, and substitute Conor Corbett pointed to seal an absolute classic.

Scorers for Cork: S Sherlock 0-14 (0-5 f, 3 2pt, 1 2pt f, 0-1 45), M Cronin 0-5 (1 2pt f, 0-1 f), D Buckley 0-3 (1 2pt), C O’Callaghan 0-2, M Shanley, P Walsh, I Maguire, D O’Mahony, C Corbett, C Óg Jones 0-1 each.

Meath: J Conlon 0-7 (1 2pt), E Frayne (2 2pt, 0-1 f), R Kinsella (1 2pt) 0-5 each, S Brennan 0-4 (2 2pt f), C Caulfield 1-0, J Morris 0-2, M Costello 0-1.

CORK: P Doyle; S Meehan, M Shanley, D O’Mahony; B O’Driscoll, T Walsh, L Fahy; C O’Callaghan, I Maguire (c); P Walsh, S McDonnell, D Buckley; M Cronin, C Óg Jones, S Sherlock.

Subs: R Deane for S McDonnell (53), S Walsh for D Buckley, R Maguire for L Fahy (both 57), C Corbett for P Walsh (61).

MEATH: S Brennan; D Keogan, S Rafferty, S Lavin; R Ryan, S Coffey, C Caulfield; C McBride, B Menton; C O’Connor, J Morris, R Kinsella; M Costello, E Frayne (c), J Conlon.

Subs: J Flynn for B Menton (44), J O’Connor for R Kinsella (50- 53, temp), J O’Connor for C O’Connor (54), C Hickey for E Frayne (57), A Lynch for J Conlon (65).

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).