MAURICE Shanley believes Páirc Uí Rinn continues to bring the best out of Cork’s footballers.

The Rebels have now won all three competitive games played at the venue this season, and the electric atmosphere during their All-Ireland SFC victory over Meath inspired another memorable comeback.

The crowd of 8,526 played its part as Cork roared back from eight points down at half time to keep their season alive.

‘It’s a very special place here,’ Shanley told The Southern Star as a sea of red spilled onto the pitch after the final whistle.

‘We always seem to play well in Páirc Uí Rinn. The fans are right on top of us and they always come out to support us here.

‘We felt we had to come out in the second half and show a bit of fight. We did that in the end.

‘We were disappointed after the Munster final, but we had to park it quickly enough. We knew we had Meath in two weeks and we’ve had tough battles with them over the years.

‘This was our third time meeting them this year. We knew what we were facing. Now we can regroup for three weeks and start planning for the next day. We’re delighted.’

Rory Maguire echoed those sentiments.

‘The fans were waiting all game to get behind us and the lads stepped up massively,’ he said.

‘The roars and the banging of the gates lifted the place, to be fair. That drove us on.’

The support was felt on the sideline too, with Cork manager John Cleary praising the impact of the home crowd.

‘The atmosphere was great. It inspired the players and they really responded to it,’ Cleary said.

‘We were delighted to have that crowd behind us and get over the line.

‘The Donegal game in 2024 was probably on a par with that. The way it happened today, we dug ourselves into a small hole and then fought our way back in the second half.

‘With our backs to the wall, the lads stood up when it counted.’

Round 2A now awaits Cork, with victory there securing an All-Ireland quarter-final place in Croke Park.

Nine wins from 12 league and championship matches points to the growing momentum behind the Rebels.

‘It’s fantastic to win a game like this. It’s great for football and great for the lads,’ Cleary added.

‘The draw will decide everything. We could actually get an easier path to the quarter-final now, but at least we have the next day.

‘We know that if you win, you’re into the quarter-final and you have that cushion the following week.

‘The big advantage would be getting straight into the quarter-final because the games become week-on-week after that. We’re looking at three weeks now, but a game like that takes a huge amount out of the team. Going again next weekend would be tough.’

Newcestown’s David Buckley made his first competitive start of the season and produced a crucial two-pointer during Cork’s second-half surge.

‘Dave has been in the panel all year,’ Cleary said.

‘Like everything else, he was waiting for a break. He’s been going well in training over the last couple of weeks, put his hand up for selection and took his chance. We’re delighted for him.’

Buckley was equally pleased to make an impact.

‘I worked hard for the start,’ he said.

‘It’s not easy to make this team. We’ll hope to drive on this momentum now.

‘We knew coming to Páirc Uí Rinn today that it was all about winning and moving on to the next day. There wasn’t really any talk about Croke Park. It’s just game by game – that’s all we’re focused on.’

Páirc Uí Rinn has become a fortress for Cork this season. Now the Rebels will hope that momentum can carry them deeper into the championship.