Cork are through to the 2026 Lidl National Football League Division 1 final with a game to spare following this victory over Meath at MTU Cork.
Katie Quirke (two), Áine Terry O'Sullivan and Aimee Corocran goals sent the Rebels into the National League decider in their first season back after gaining promotion from Division 2.
Meath played their part in an entertaining game but remain in relegation danger heading into next weekend’s final round of fixtures.
The hosts got off to a powerful start courtesy of four unanswered scores.
Áine Terry O’Sullivan twice went close to netting an early goal and Meath struggled to contain the lively Beara forward. Three O’Sullivan points and a fine Aoife Healy score handed the Rebels an early four-point advantage.
Emma Duggan (free) responded but Meath’s defence were guilty of switching off as Katie Quirke cut in along the end-line and fired into the net after 14 minutes.
That was Meath’s cue to up the tempo as the visitors dominated the remainder of the half.
Marian Farrelly, Megan Thynne and Rachel Casserly scores made it 1-4 to 0-4 before Aoife Healy floated over her second score.
Dominating Cork’s kick-outs, Meath added three further points via Emma Duggan (two frees) and Casserly to trail 1-05 to 0-07 at the short whistle.
Duggan landed another free on the resumption but Cork struck back instantly. Aimee Corcoran raced through her opposing defence and found the bottom corner to make it 2-6 to 0-8.
A flurry of third quarter scores preceded a jersey-pull foul in front of Cork’s goal which Emma Duggan dispatched into the net from a resulting close-range free.
The game back in the melting pot, Áine Terry O’Sullivan’s palmed into an empty net to make it 3-8 to 1-9 with 5 minutes remaining.
An Emma Duggan free made it a four-point game before O’Sullivan turned provider and fed Katie Quirke to smash home Cork’s fourth goal.
A late Marion Farrelly goal came too late for Meath and it is Cork who deservedly march on to a Division 1 final.
Cork: C Redmond; M Duggan, D Kiniry, S Kelly; A Corcoran (1-00), S McGoldrick, R Corkery; A Healy (0-02), A O'Mahony; R Leahy, G Murphy, E Cleary (captain); Á T O’Sullivan (1-03), K Quirke (2-02), L Hallihan (0-01).
Subs: C Hughes for D Kiniry (33), R O’Regan for L Hallahan (52), K Redmond for G Ní Mhurchú (52), S Callanan for R Corkery (57), A Ring for Á T O’Sullivan (57), E Hurley for for R Leahy (60), C McCarthy for K Quirke (62).
Meath: R Murray; K Kealy, Á Sheridan, A Farrell; C Lawlor, O Gore, K Bermingham; O Sheehy, M Thynne (0-02); M Farrelly (1-01), C Smyth (0-01), N Gallogly (captain) (0-01); E Duggan (1-05), L Woods, R Casserly.
Subs: M Byrne for L Woods (41), S Murphy for R Casserly (0-02) (41), M K Lynch for O Gore (42), C Millington for C Lawlor (47), O Finnegan for O Sheehy (47), Ó Smith for A Farrell (51).
Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).
