Rebels hold off Royal siege in a good start to campaign
A GOAL just before half-time from Brid O’Sullivan was crucial as Cork got their TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship campaign off to a winning start at Birr.
In a close and tense game the experience of Cork told in the end with Ciara O’Sullivan and Aine O’Sullivan’s second-half displays ensuring Cork took the points.
Orla Finn was the first to score when she pointed from a free in the first minute, with Stacey Grimes replying for Meath.
Another Finn free had Cork back in front and just before the water break when they led 0-3 to 0-2.
Points from Finn and Ciara O’Sullivan increased Cork’s lead, although Meath missed a number of frees.
Grimes landed a free in the 28th minute, while Aoibhin Cleary roamed forward to put one between the sides.
However, just before half-time a pass from Hannah Looney found Melissa Duggan, who beat several defenders, and her pass found Brid O’Sullivan who hit the net to put Cork 1-5 to 0-4 at half-time.
Both sides missed chances early in the second half before Grimes pointed from a free, while Looney’s protest saw her sin-binned for 10 minutes. Finn put over a free, but then went off injured — a huge loss to Cork.
Grimes landed a free, with Duggan replying for Cork, but Meath responded with points from Lynch and Niamh O’Sullivan closing the gap to 1-7 to 0-8.
Late on, Eimear Scally was put through on goal, only for Meath keeper, Monica McGuirk, to save.
And in a tense finish Duggan scored for Meath but in the end Cork held solid to claim the spoils.