Allianz Football League Division Two

CORK 0-18 MEATH 1-15

By Denis Hurley at Pairc Ui Rinn

It might not have been a result either side wanted, but both Cork and Meath showed character to avoid defeat in Division 2 at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday.

Trailing by nine points at one stage, Meath produced a great scoring burst to take the lead through Seán Tobin’s massive point as the end neared.

Having allowed an unanswered 1-6, Cork’s confidence must have been low, but the Rebels actually came back to lead though Colm O’Neill and Barry O’Driscoll, but ultimately Meath’s Donal Lenihan had the final say with an equaliser in the 75th minute.

Cork dominated for almost all of the first half and early in the second period, as two Colm O’Neill points on the resumption had them 0-14 to 0-5 ahead. Even then though, the hosts’ hopes were greatly aided by good Ken O’Halloran saves, from Cillian O’Sullivan in the first half and then Lenihan early in the second period.

Overall though, Cork attacked well, with O’Neill scoring six points in the first half while Mark Collins and Ruairí Deane also impressed. O’Neill and Peter Kelleher both had goal chances too, but both were off-target.

After the first six points of the second half were evenly shared, Paul Kerrigan made it 0-16 to 0-8 for Cork with 22 minutes left but from there Meath took control. After points from Eamonn Wallace, Alan Forde and Lenihan, corner-back Donal Keogan goaled following Wallace’s pass and then Reilly and Lenihan had them level.

Tobin put them in front, but Cork had a response and pushed back in front. They couldn’t hold on either, though, and when Reilly was fouled close to goal, Lenihan levelled.

Scorers for Cork: Colm O’Neill 0-9 (6fs), Mark Collins 0-3 (2fs), Paul Kerrigan, 0-2, James Loughrey, Ruairí Deane, Peter Kelleher, Barry O’Driscoll 0-1 each.

**Scorers for Meath: **Donal Lenihan 0-5 (5fs), Graham Reilly 0-3, Donal Keogan 1-0, Alan Forde, Bryan McMahon 0-2 each, Cillian O’Sullivan, Eamonn Wallace, Seán Tobin 0-1 each.

CORK: Ken O’Halloran; Kevin Crowley, Tom Clancy (Clonakilty), Michael Shields; Tomás Clancy (Fermoy), James Loughrey, Stephen Cronin; Aidan Walsh, Ruairí Deane; Ian Maguire, Mark Collins, Kevin O’Driscoll; Colm O’Neill, Peter Kelleher, Paul Kerrigan.

Subs: John O’Rourke for Walsh (9, injured), Colm O’Driscoll for Maguire (20, black card), Conor Dorman for Tomás Clancy (58), Barry O’Driscoll for Kevin O’Driscoll (61), Kevin Davis for Kerrigan (64), Niall Coakley for Kelleher (70).

MEATH: Paddy O’Rourke; Donnacha Tobin, Conor McGill, Donal Keogan; Willie Carry, Brian Power, Pauric Harnan; Bryan Menton, James Toher; Ruairí Ó Coileáin, Cillian O’Sullivan, Alan Forde; Bryan McMahon, Graham Reilly, Donal Lenihan.

Subs: Eamonn Wallace for Ó Coileáin (23), James McEntee for Power (half-time), Séamus Lavin for Carry, Seán Tobin for O’Sullivan (both 53), Shane McEntee for Forde (63), Joey Wallace for McMahon (68).

REFEREE: Fergal Kelly (Longford).