Cork cruise home as Meath challenge fades

Cork 1-15 Meath 0-9:SHARPER CORK eased to victory over Meath in the biting cold at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday. The home side had the points practically wrapped up at half-time, when they led by 1-7 to 0-2 having played with the wind. Meath failed to rally on the restart and the outcome was a foregone conclusion long before the end .

Referee Syl Doyle showed three yellow cards to Meath players, defenders Kevin Reilly and Shane McAnarney and midfielder Brian Meade, all for second black-book offences.

Cork mastered the experimental rules without any undue bother, right-halfforward Conor McCarthy the lone player to come to the referee’s notice for a foul which earned him the black book.

Meath’s Joe Sheridan fisted wide in the seventh minute when he had more time than he realised.

A minute later Daniel Goulding’s probing ball at the other end resulted in Michael Cussen punching a goal for a 1-1 to 0-0 lead. Inspired by Graham Canty and Pearse O’Neill, Cork pulled away as O’Neill and O’Connor, with two points, made it 1-4 to 0-1 after 21 minutes before Stephen Bray kicked Meath’s second point moments later. Cork finished the half on top, pointed frees from Goulding and O’Connor extending their lead with O’Neill punching over another score.

Meath had strong claims for a first-minute penalty on the resumption after Noel O’Donovan appeared to foul Caoimhin King, but play continued and Cork went straight into attack, Fintan Goold pointing to add to the visitors’ ire.

Goulding’s perseverance paid off with an impressive point to leave Cork 1-11 to 0-4 clear after 50 minutes and, while Cian Ward and King kicked quick-fire points for Meath, it was no more than a token response.

Cork brought the towering Cussen to midfield and he was involved in a five-minute spell during which O’Connor, O’Neill and McCarthy landed points.

CORK: A Quirke; M Shields, N O’Donovan, A Lynch; N O’Leary, G Canty, captain, J Miskella; A O’Connor, P O’Neill (0-3); C McCarthy (0-2), F Goold (0-1), P Kelly; D Goulding (0-5, 0-4 frees), M Cussen (1-0), D O’Connor (0-4). Subs: K O’Connor for O’Leary (41 mins), R Carey for O’Donovan injured (47 mins), A O’Sullivan for O’Neill (64 mins), P O’Flynn for Cussen (65 mins), P Kerrigan for Goulding (66 mins), G Spillane for Lynch (69 mins).

MEATH: P O’Rourke; A Moyles, K Reilly, E Harrington; S McAnarney, B Regan, S McKenna; D Sheridan (0-1), B Meade; D Bray (0-1), S Bray (capt, 0-1), E Reilly; J Sheridan, C King (0-2), C Ward (0-2 frees). Subs: C O’Connor (0-1) for E Reilly (half-time), N Crawford for Meade (39 mins, yellow), S Kenny for D Bray (45 mins), N McKeigue for McKenna (47 mins), J Queeney (0-1) for K Reilly (55 mins, yellow). McAnarney (70 mins, yellow – not replaced).

Referee: S Doyle (Wexford).