Fintan O'Toole
Reports from SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Cork 2-19
Meath 0-21
THE OPENING ROUND has been a fruitless stage in the league of late for the Cork footballers, yet a strong second-half showing saw them change that pattern against Meath tonight.
Second-half goals from Mattie Taylor and the excellent Chris Óg Jones paved the way for their victory, as they repelled a late push from Meath in this Division 2 encounter.
With the raft of new rules sweeping in to transform Gaelic football, this game offered an early examination. The pace of the action and the scoring rates were noticeably spiked, and the spectacle improved as a result.
The teams were deadlocked at 0-11 apiece at the break, the outstanding Jordan Morris denied by a Michéal Aodh Martin save in the 31st minute as he sought goal, while Colm O’Callaghan rocketed a drive off the crossbar for Cork a couple of minutes later.
The two times Cork found the net proved decisive. Taylor made the breakthrough in the 41st minute, finishing brilliantly to the net with a hooked left-foot effort after Seán Powter’s barrelling run through the Meath defence.
Chris Óg Jones netted for Cork. Natasha Barton / INPHO
Natasha Barton / INPHO / INPHO
The Royals response was impressive to that concession as they clipped over three points on the bounce, but Cork produced a scoring spree of their own then that yielded five points.
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Then Chris Óg Jones finished at the second attempt to the net in the 57th minute after Mark Cronin released him into space, a crucial moment in fashioning Cork’s eventual victory.
When Jones knocked over a 65th minute point, Cork had surged eight clear but they failed to score again and had to withstand that closing spell of Meath pressure. Mathew Costello brought his overall tally to ten for the day, including one two-pointer free, but Cork were still able to keep Meath at arm’s length.
Cronin and Brian O’Driscoll shone in the scoring stakes for them with a combined 0-13 return, while Jones impressed with his tally of 1-4. Costello and Morris sparkled for a Meath team, that saw their accuracy drop off in the closing quarter as they chased the game.
Cork boss John Cleary. Natasha Barton / INPHO
Natasha Barton / INPHO / INPHO
Scorers for Cork: Chris Óg Jones 1-4, Mark Cronin 0-7 (0-5 frees, 0-1 2pt free), Brian O’Driscoll 0-6 (0-1 free, 0-1 2pt free), Mattie Taylor 1-0, Cathail O’Mahony 0-1, Paul Walsh 0-1.
Scorers for Meath: Mathew Costello 0-10 (0-5 frees, 0-1 2pt free), Jordan Morris 0-4, Shane Walsh 0-2, Eoin Harkin 0-2, Billy Hogan 0-1, Jack Flynn 0-1, Eoghan Frayne 0-1.
Cork
1. Míchéal Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers)
2. Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty), 3. Daniel O’ Mahony (Knocknagree – captain), 4. Neil Lordan (Ballinora)
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Cork get off to winning start against Meath with Taylor and Jones bagging goals
Cork 2-19
Meath 0-21
THE OPENING ROUND has been a fruitless stage in the league of late for the Cork footballers, yet a strong second-half showing saw them change that pattern against Meath tonight.
Second-half goals from Mattie Taylor and the excellent Chris Óg Jones paved the way for their victory, as they repelled a late push from Meath in this Division 2 encounter.
With the raft of new rules sweeping in to transform Gaelic football, this game offered an early examination. The pace of the action and the scoring rates were noticeably spiked, and the spectacle improved as a result.
The teams were deadlocked at 0-11 apiece at the break, the outstanding Jordan Morris denied by a Michéal Aodh Martin save in the 31st minute as he sought goal, while Colm O’Callaghan rocketed a drive off the crossbar for Cork a couple of minutes later.
The two times Cork found the net proved decisive. Taylor made the breakthrough in the 41st minute, finishing brilliantly to the net with a hooked left-foot effort after Seán Powter’s barrelling run through the Meath defence.
The Royals response was impressive to that concession as they clipped over three points on the bounce, but Cork produced a scoring spree of their own then that yielded five points.
Then Chris Óg Jones finished at the second attempt to the net in the 57th minute after Mark Cronin released him into space, a crucial moment in fashioning Cork’s eventual victory.
When Jones knocked over a 65th minute point, Cork had surged eight clear but they failed to score again and had to withstand that closing spell of Meath pressure. Mathew Costello brought his overall tally to ten for the day, including one two-pointer free, but Cork were still able to keep Meath at arm’s length.
Cronin and Brian O’Driscoll shone in the scoring stakes for them with a combined 0-13 return, while Jones impressed with his tally of 1-4. Costello and Morris sparkled for a Meath team, that saw their accuracy drop off in the closing quarter as they chased the game.
Scorers for Cork: Chris Óg Jones 1-4, Mark Cronin 0-7 (0-5 frees, 0-1 2pt free), Brian O’Driscoll 0-6 (0-1 free, 0-1 2pt free), Mattie Taylor 1-0, Cathail O’Mahony 0-1, Paul Walsh 0-1.
Scorers for Meath: Mathew Costello 0-10 (0-5 frees, 0-1 2pt free), Jordan Morris 0-4, Shane Walsh 0-2, Eoin Harkin 0-2, Billy Hogan 0-1, Jack Flynn 0-1, Eoghan Frayne 0-1.
Cork
1. Míchéal Aodh Martin (Nemo Rangers)
2. Maurice Shanley (Clonakilty), 3. Daniel O’ Mahony (Knocknagree – captain), 4. Neil Lordan (Ballinora)
11. Seán Powter (Douglas), 6. Rory Maguire (Castlehaven), 7. Matty Taylor (Mallow)
8. Sean Walsh (Mitchelstown), 9. Colm O’Callaghan (Eire Óg)
10. Paul Walsh (Kanturk), 12. Eoghan McSweeney (Knocknagree), 5. Brian O’Driscoll (Carrigaline),
13. Mark Cronin (Nemo Rangers), 14. Chris Óg Jones (Uibh Laoire), 15. Sean McDonnell (Mallow)
Subs
Meath
1. Billy Hogan (Longwood)
3. Adam O’Neill (Wolfe Tones), 2. Seamus Lavin (St Peter’s Dunboyne), 6. Donal Keogan (Rathkenny)
17. Eoin Harkin (Dunsany), 5. Seán Coffey (Ballinabrackey), 7. Ciarán Caulfield (Trim)
8. Jack Flynn (Ratoath), 9. Bryan Menton (Donaghmore-Ashbourne)
20. Keith Curtis (Rathkenny), 11. Shane Walsh (Na Fianna), 12. Jack Kinlough (St Peter’s Dunboyne)
13. Jordan Morris (Kingscourt Stars, Cavan), 14. Mathew Costello (Dunshaughlin), 15. Eoghan Frayne (Summerhill – captain)
Subs
Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary)
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