Gaelic Games

Meath come back from the dead to draw with Cork

Meath come back from nine points down to take a share of the spoils at Pairc Ui Rinn

Meath’s Graham Reilly scored an injury time equaliser against Cork on Sunday. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Meath’s Graham Reilly scored an injury time equaliser against Cork on Sunday. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Sun Mar 19 2017 - 17:05

Cork 0-18 Meath 1-15

Meath’s renowned never-say-die qualities surfaced again on Sunday, when they came from nine points down to earn a draw against relegation threatened Cork at Pairc Ui Rinn.

When Cork centre-back James Loughrey surged forward to land Cork's 15th score after 45 minutes it looked to be over for the visitors, but they never gave up the chase with the wind at their backs.

Meath scored 1-6 without response in a devastating 15-minute spell to turn the game on its head. Corner back Donal Keogan popped up with the goal after 55 minutes before a Donal Lenihan free levelled matters with six minutes remaining.

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Then, substitute Sean Tobin edged Meath in front for only the second time, but a Colm O'Neill free and a Barry O'Driscoll score nudged Cork ahead again entering injury-time.

However, in the closing act, three minutes into injury-time Meath captain Graham Reilly was fouled and Lenihan kicked the equaliser.

Cork scored seven points without response in the opening 20 minutes to lead by 0-12 to 0-5 at the break - with O'Neill and Mark Collins prominent.

Cork: K O'Halloran; K Crowley, Tom Clancy, M Shields; Tomas Clancy, J Loughrey (0-1), S Cronin; A Walsh, R Deane (0-1); I Maguire, M Collins (0-3, two from frees), K O'Driscoll; C O'Neill (0-9, six from frees), P Kelleher (0-1), P Kerrigan (0-2).

Subs: J O’Rourke for Walsh (8 mins), C O’Driscoll for Maguire (black card 19 mins), C Dorman for Tomas Clancy (57 mins), B O’Driscoll (0-1) for K O’Driscoll (60 mins), K Davis for Kerrigan (64 mins), N Coakley for Kelleher (72 mins).

Meath: P O'Rourke; D Keogan (1-0), C McGil, D Tobin; W Carry, B Power, P Harnan; B Menton, J Toher; A Forde (0-2), C O'Sullivan (0-1), R O Colieain; B McMahon (0-2), G Reilly (0-3), D Lenihan (0-5 from frees).

Subs: E Wallace (0-1) for O Coileain (23 mins), J McEntee for Power (half-time), S Lavin for Carry (52 mins), S Tobin (0-1) for O’Sullivan (53 mins), S McEntee for Forde (62 mins), J Wallace for McMahon (68 mins).

Referee: F Kelly (Longford)