PERFECT START
O’Rourke happy as Meath win opener
Sean Powter and Donal Keogan of Meath at Pairc Ui Chaoimh; Cork’s Colm O’Callaghan and Cathal Hickey yesterday
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COLM O’Rourke will have been looking forward to tuning into RTÉ’s GAA highlights last night.
The former Sunday Game pundit got off to the perfect start as Meath manager with a come-from-behind victory over his old rivals Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
His Royals trailed for almost all of the opening 53 minutes before a two-goal burst from Jordan Morris and Cillian O’Sullivan, adding to 1-7 from Shane Walsh, overwhelmed an exposed Cork defence.
“We probably left another two or three goals behind us as well,” was O’Rourke’s analysis.
“You always want your team to be a second-half team and at least today they showed that.
“It showed too that they had a fairly high level of fitness built up because they seemed to be going strong enough at the end.”
The Rebels were over-reliant on Steven Sherlock for scores, as he finished with 0-14 in defeat.
What made the second-half turnaround all the better was it was achieved with a full-back line made up of League debutants.
Michael Flood held full-forward Brian Hurley scoreless. James O’Hare chased Chris Óg Jones around until he picked up a yellow card. He was replaced by another debutant in Harry O’Higgins. And Adam O’Neill was introduced at half-time in place of his brother Daniel.
The man who never played minor, Under-20, or even O’Byrne Cup for Meath went straight in on Sherlock.
A baptism of fire but he won a turnover and a race for possession with his first two involvements to settle in.
Moments
In the final moments, he produced a crucial block on Cathail O’Mahony.
“We made it clear to the lads that if you’re going well in training, you’re going to get on,” said O’Rourke.
“They’re inexperienced but Michael Flood won a Sigerson with UCC back five or six years ago, had fallen through the net in Meath. We always felt he should be on the Meath team.
“So he was coming to the table here at 26 or 27 years of age. He’s a mature, calm type of presence.
“The other young fellas, they were all showing well in training. We can’t preach one thing in training and not go through with it. It meant quite a lot of young players playing but that makes it even better.”
O’Rourke still wants to add experience to his panel with an approach made to Bryan Menton.
The veteran midfielder is “reluctant” although “the door is always open”.
“He has nothing against anybody or anything. He’s just at an age where he’s moving to a different stage of life. But we’d love to have him back.”
The first half was the Sherlock show. Leaving aside a weak effort on goal when off balance, he kicked a perfect eight from eight, five frees, a 45, and two from play, as Cork built an 0-11 to 1-6 lead.
Meath struggled at times to retain their kick-out against the Cork press but when they did, they were able to attack at pace.
Their seventh-minute goal came from such a situation. Donal Keogan secured possession, Daithí McGowan linked play, and Walsh beat his man on the inside before finishing with cool authority.
Advantage
That 1-0 to 0-2 advantage was Meath’s only lead until their late turnaround.
A fingertip save from Harry Hogan on impressive Cork wing-back Mattie Taylor kept them in touch. At the other end, Mícheál Aodh Martin made a superb double save to deny Darragh Campion and Morris.
Meath still trailed by three until they blasted 2-4 against Cork’s 0-1 between the 51st and 61st minutes.
Their forwards suddenly found all sorts of space to exploit with fast passing and direct running.
A Jason Scully intercept on an Ian Maguire pass changed everything. His assist allowed Morris to palm to the roof of the net. That was immediately followed by Hogan making a double save of his own on Colm O’Callaghan and Seán Powter.
Walsh added 0-3 and sub Jack O’Connor kicked a huge point before O’Sullivan burst through the Cork defence and found the top corner.
It was now 3-12 to 0-15 and game over.
“We made a bad mistake for the vital goal, their second goal, coming out of defence,” said Cork boss John Cleary.
“I thought we were still relatively in control but that knocked us back big time. It gave Meath a big lifeline. They probably deservedly won it in the end. Goals win games. They got three. We didn’t get any. Scored 19 points but it wasn’t to be. “We can’t concede goals like that and expect to win these games.”