Cork have had their opening-day struggles in the past decade but they got their Allianz Football League Division 2 campaign off on the right foot with a four-point victory against Meath at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
This was an open, entertaining game played under the new rules, although it should be noted that these two produced an exciting 3-14 to 0-19 encounter in the equivalent fixture two years ago.
Colm O'Rourke got his managerial term off to a winning start that day but Robbie Brennan’s inter-county debut went the other way as Cork grabbed the goals this time through Matty Taylor and Chris Óg Jones, who finished with 1-04.
While the Rebels executed the majority of their chances, Meath missed 20 attempts between wides and shots dropped short.
In terms of the new rules, Cork scored the only two-pointer of the first half from a free outside the 40-metre arc but their failure to keep three players beyond the halfway line saw them penalised with a 14-metre free to level at midway; 0-11 apiece.
Meath suffered a similar offence after the break with Mark Cronin taking the option to move the free back outside the 40-metre arc for a successful two-pointer.
Both sides pushed their goalkeeper forward throughout to manufacture 12-on-11 situations in the opposition half. Adventurous Meath stopper Billy Hogan collected a couple of assists and had three shots at the posts, scoring one when spinning between two tacklers.
The solo-and-go free was also well utilised by both teams.
John Cleary has tended to go strong from the outset of the League but between departures and injuries, he handed out three debuts to Neil Lordan, Seán Walsh, and Seán McDonnell, plus Éanna Desmond off the bench.
Meath welcomed back a few familiar faces after lengthy layoffs. Jack Flynn and Bryan Menton formed the midfield partnership, while defender Seamus Lavin made his first appearance since 2021. There were also debuts for wing-forward Jack Kinlough plus substitutes Conor Duke and Seán Rafferty.
The teams traded points through the first quarter with impressive kicks from Mathew Costello and Flynn before a Seán Coffey solo-and-go led to a handpassed point from Jordan Morris.
Cork trailed by one but slingshot into the lead with new free-taker Brian O’Driscoll splitting the posts from a free outside the arc. He would add two more lengthy points, albeit from just inside the arc, before half-time.
Further frees pushed the hosts three ahead but Meath battled back through Costello, Morris, and Eoin Harkin.
There was space left in behind by players defending the arc and both teams almost exposed it before the break.
The threatening Morris had a shot on goal saved by Micheál Aodh Martin but the follow up was pointed by Shane Walsh to equalise and Morris’ spin move pushed them ahead.
Then a smart one-two from Colm O’Callaghan created the opportunity as his rasper cracked the woodwork.
Paul Walsh was deemed to have tiptoed inside the arc for a one-pointer and another from O’Driscoll saw them retake the lead but Costello would send them in level.
Cork’s first goal arrived in the 41st minute. Brian O’Driscoll slipped Seán Powter into space and he fed opposite wing-back Matty Taylor to chip into the far corner.
It was 1-13 to 0-13 but Meath levelled for a 10th time with quickfire points from Shane Walsh, new captain Eoghan Frayne, and Hogan.
Cork reeled off the next 1-5 without reply. Cronin landed his two-point free, Cathail O’Mahony converted his first touch, and it was followed by the second goal in the 57th minute.
Seán Walsh won a free, Cronin found Jones, and though Hogan saved his first effort, he netted the rebound for a 2-18 to 0-16 lead.
Costello attempted a pair of late two-point frees, including one brought outside the arc after sub-keeper Patrick Doyle took too long over a kick-out, and scored one, but they couldn’t get within touching distance.
KEY: tp - two-point score; tpf - two-point free; tpm - two-point mark
Cork: MA Martin; M Shanley, D O’Mahony, N Lordan; S Powter, R Maguire, M Taylor (1-00); S Walsh, C O’Callaghan; P Walsh (0-01), E McSweeney, B O’Driscoll (0-06, 2f, 1tpf); M Cronin (0-07, 5f, 1tpf), C Óg Jones (1-04), S McDonnell.
Subs: P Doyle for Martin (52), C O’Mahony (0-01) for McDonnell (52), D Cashman for Powter (62), É Desmond for S Walsh (66), T Walsh for McSweeney (70+1).
Meath: B Hogan (0-01); A O’Neill, S Lavin, D Keoghan; E Harkin (0-02), S Coffey, C Caulfield; J Flynn (0-01), B Menton; K Curtis, S Walsh (0-02), J Kinlough; J Morris (0-04), M Costello (0-10, 5f, 1tpf), E Frayne (0-01).
Subs: B O’Halloran for O’Neill (50), C Duke for Curtis (54), J Conlon for Walsh (56), R Jones for Frayne (61), S Rafferty for Caulfield (61).
Referee: D O’Mahony (Tipperary).
