CORK 1-23

MEATH 1-21

MATTHEW HURLEY REPORTS

YOU can win games with skills and game-plans but Cork’s battling qualities were key in beating Meath, insisted John Cleary after his team emerged the victors from this top-of-the-table Division 2 clash in Páirc Ui Rinn.

In a game of fine margins, Luke Fahy’s last-minute block on Meath’s Adam O’Neill to deny a certain goal was a key moment as the visitors chased a winner.

‘Every team has tactics and you try to set up game-plays but it just comes down to bodies on the line and a bit of courage. Our lads, particularly in defence, showed that in the end,’ a proud Cleary said.

‘Any team you're involved in, all you can ask for is 100 percent. Some are more skilful than others and some are better players than others but the bottom line is that you give 100 percent and we definitely got it in spades.’

It wasn’t just Fahy’s interception. Sean Meehan, Daniel O’Mahony and Tommy Walsh all made vital interceptions to quell the Meath onslaught, as the Royals piled on the pressure.

After Ian Maguire’s dismissal on 56 minutes, at a stage when Cork led 1-21 to 1-15, the home side had to play with 14 men until the end. They had to dig deep.

‘An inter-county player has to have that in his locker. If you don't, you won’t become a top player,’ Cleary said.

‘You have to have your skill and your head but also you have to be able to defend and put your body on the line. That separates the players that make the inter-county level from those that don’t. Thanks be to God, we had it in abundance.’

One player who didn’t shy away from showing his class was Bantry Blues’ Dara Sheedy. In an opening half where he hit 0-3 from play, he helped Cork into a 0-12 to 0-9 lead inside 26 minutes with Mark Cronin’s two two-pointers also highlights.

‘Dara is a young player that we had eyes on and we brought him in when we started this year. We weren’t sure whether it was just for experience but the way he's come in and put up his hand, we couldn’t but not pick him,’ Cleary praised.

‘Against Offaly, it was his first-ever 70-minute game and in the second half, he just tired but he’s definitely a player for the future. Great lad to work with – he puts down his head and we’re delighted to have him.’

It was an unanswered 1-3 at the end of the half – through a Chris Óg Jones goal, Cronin point and Steven Sherlock two-pointer – that pushed the Rebels 1-15 to 0-11 up at the break.

Jordan Morris and Eoghan Frayne linked up for the latter to palm to the net to bring Meath within three.

However, Jones, Sheedy, Fahy, Colm O’Callaghan and Seán McDonnell pointed crucial scores before Maguire's red for an off-the-ball incident involving Meath’s Adam O’Neill.

Despite that, the Rebels hung on for a crucial win and kept their promotion hopes alive.

Our Star: This was a great team display from Cork but Dara Sheedy, in just his second senior inter-county start, was superb with a score of 0-4 and 0-2 in assists.

Scorers

Cork: Chris Óg Jones 1-4; Mark Cronin 0-5 (2 2pt); Dara Sheedy, Steven Sherlock (1f, 1 45, 1 2pt) 0-4 each; Seán McDonnell 0-3; Ian Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan, Luke Fahy 0-1 each.

Meath: Eoghan Frayne 1-3 (1 2pt); Jordan Morris 0-4 (1f); Ruairí Kinsella, Jack Flynn 0-3 each; Aaron Lynch, Seán Brennan (2ptf), Jack O’Connor 0-2 each; Seán Coffey, Ciarán Caulfield 0-1 each.

Cork: Micheál Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers); Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty), Daniel O’Mahony (captain, Knocknagree), Seán Meehan (Kiskeam); Luke Fahy (Ballincollig), Tommy Walsh (Kanturk), Matty Taylor (Mallow); Colm O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), Ian Maguire (St Finbarr’s); Paul Walsh (Kanturk), Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers), Seán McDonnell (Mallow); Chris Óg Jones (Uibh Laoire), Dara Sheedy (Bantry Blues), Steven Sherlock (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: Ruairí Deane (Bantry Blues) for P Walsh (54); Seán Walsh (Mitchelstown) for D Sheedy (60); Rory Maguire (Castlehaven) for M Taylor (63); David Buckley (Newcestown) for C O’Callaghan (64); Kevin O’Donovan (Nemo Rangers) for S Meehan (68).

Meath: Seán Brennan; Seamus Lavin, Ronan Ryan, Brian O’Halloran; Donal Keogan, Seán Coffey, Ciarán Caulfield; Bryan Menton, Jack Flynn; Conor Duke, Ruairí Kinsella, Cian McBride; Jordan Morris, Eoghan Frayne, Aaron Lynch.

Subs: Adam O’Neill for C McBride (34, inj); Jack O’Connor for C Duke (ht); James Conlon for A Lynch (47); Jason Scully for R Ryan (58).

Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan).