Meath second best in McCarthy tribute match
The memory of Teddy McCarthy was recalled at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday as Meath and Cork played out a SF challenge in his tribute which went the way of the hosts.
Goals from Blake Murphy, Ian Maguire, and Colm O’Callaghan earned Cork a comfortable victory over Meath and while the result was irrelevant it was another valuable outing for Meath as Colm O'Rourke got to cast his eye over more senior hopefuls ahead of the start of the league.
The hosts played into a gale in the first half, but still made the turn five points ahead, 1-7 to 0-5, and extended their advantage out to nine by the end.
Jack Flynn pulled a goal back for Meath in this repeat of the 1990 All-Ireland final where Rebel legend McCarthy, who passed away in June, made history by completing the double.
Ronan Jones was superb at centre-back for Meath, who had Aaron Lynch in fine form, kicking points off of both feet and laying on Flynn’s goal.
John Cleary selected six of the team who contested last summer’s All-Ireland quarter-final against Derry, while O’Rourke picked a half-dozen of his Tailteann Cup winning team.
Lynch began with an opening pair of points, Cork replied with three points on the spin from Murphy (free), Fionn Herlihy and Eoghan McSweeney.
After an Eoghan Frayne equaliser, Chris Óg Jones restored Cork's lead but Meath hit the next two, including a superb score from Flynn.
However the Royals didn’t score again in the final 13 minutes of the half as the Rebels racked up 1-3, including Murphy's 29th-minute goal when he blocked a handpass by 'keeper Harry Hogan.
Lynch replied with his third score after play resumed, but the visitors went 23 minutes without a score as Cork hit a further 1-4, including Maguire's goal
Flynn’s goal gave Meath something to cheer but substitute Colm O’Callaghan cancelled it out within two minutes from a Tommy Walsh pass.
Cork - P Doyle; K Flahive, M Shanley, M Taylor (0-1); D Cashman, T Clancy, S Powter; I Maguire (1-0), P Walsh; E McSweeney (0-1), F Herlihy (0-1), B O’Driscoll (0-1); B Murphy (1-5 five free), C Corbett, C Óg Jones (0-3). Subs - T Walsh for Powter, J O’Driscoll for Flahive, C O’Callaghan (1-0) for Maguire, J O’Rourke for McSweeney, D Buckley for Corbett, C Kelly for Doyle, D Gore for P Walsh.
Meath - H Hogan; N Murphy, M Flood, M Murphy; C Caulfield, R Jones, S Coffey; J Flynn (1-1), J Kinlough; D McGowan, R Kinsella, J O’Connor; A Lynch (0-4 one mark), M Costello (0-2 frees), E Frayne (0-1). Subs - S Brennan for Hogan, D Moriarty for Frayne, C Finnegan (0-1 free) for McGowan, B O’Reilly for M Murphy, J O’Regan for Jones, A McDonnell for Caulfield, M Coffey for N Murphy, C Farrelly for Kinsella, Frayne for Lynch.