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Irish Examiner
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Matthew Costello shines as Meath triumph over Cork with late scores
All-Ireland SFC Group 2: Meath 1-13 Cork 0-12 New rules but very much an old school feel and scoreline to this All-Ireland Group 2, Round 1 clash in a wet Páirc Tailteann as a profligate Meath held out for the victory. Four points from Cork in three minutes including a two-pointer had brought the visitors to within the minimum just before the hour mark. However, the Leinster runners-up recomposed themselves with a Matthew Costello free. James Conlon followed it up with an effort from play and Costello provided the cushion with his fifth point in the 66th minute. Trailing 0-5 to 1-5 at the break having faced the breeze, Cork were back on level terms within four minutes of the restart. Mattie Taylor fisted over a point prior to Colm O'Callaghan sending over the first two-pointer of the game. That O'Callaghan score, however, turned out to be Cork's last score for 17 minutes as Meath's dominance in midfield and rapid movement breaking forward produced five unanswered points. James Conlon's speed from standing starts was key to adding impetus to their attacks while Matthew Costello, Bryan Menton and Seán Coffey were excellent in claiming primary ball. Substitute Ruairí Deane ended Cork's scoring drought in the 56th minute and when Mark Cronin thumped over a two-pointer, Cork had their spark. Chris Óg Jones followed it up with his fourth point and the initiative had well and truly shifted. Earlier this week, it was confirmed the clock/hooter would be operable in Navan but nobody said there would be two clocks telling two different stories. On one side of the town end was the scoreboard clock, which was continuous. On the other side was the match stop-clock, possibly the smallest in the country. In any time zone, Meath's first-half shooting with the hefty wind into that end was pathetic. In the first 27 minutes, they posted seven wides, dropped two short and had a goal attempt kept out and had just two points to their name. All in all, a conversion rate of less than 17%. Jordan Morris struck a first half goal for Meath. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady Cork were honest and economical. Having lost the toss, it was going to be a case of not losing the game in the first half and for seven minutes in the second quarter they actually led, going three up in the 25th minute when Jones slotted over a third point. Goal openings came within 30 seconds of each in the 13th and 14th minutes. Cathail O'Mahony's shot was kept out at one end and then Micheál Aodh Martin had to be sharp to prevent Conlon after Costello's initial shot was parried. Paul Walsh's scooped effort was cleared off the Meath goal-line three minutes later but Cork's work ethic especially on kick-outs and methodical build-up wasn't going to go unrewarded. Jones levelled the game with his first in the 21st minute and from the kick-out after Cronin's second converted free Cork put pressure on Ciarán Caulfield and Seamus Lavin and Jones added a second. His third was the last of the half for Cork as Meath finally got their act together. Costello gave the hosts a much-needed point in the 28th minute and then Jordan Morris struck for a goal on the half-hour mark. The genesis of the attack was unusual as Jones appeared to pull out of making a tackle believing he had breached the three-up rule when Cork had the required amount of bodies in the Meath half of the field. Morris's execution was so tidy and so unlike his team's finishing up to that point. It proved an inspiration as Costello send over a second point two minutes later and then Frayne converted a second free after Ian Maguire fouled Morris. Scorers for Meath: M. Costello (0-5, 1 free); J. Morris (1-1); E. Frayne (0-3, frees); J. Conlon (0-2); B. Hogan (45), S. Coffey (0-1 each). Scorers for Cork: C. Jones, M. Cronin (1tp, 0-2 frees) (0-4 each); C. O'Callaghan (0-2, 1tp); M. Taylor, R. Deane (0-1 each). MEATH: B. Hogan; S. Lavin, S. Rafferty, R. Ryan; D. Keogan, S. Coffey, C. Caulfield; J. Flynn, B. Menton; C. Duke, R. Kinsella, M. Costello; J. Morris, J. Conlon, E. Frayne (c). Subs: A. O'Neill for J. Flynn (inj), K. Curtis for E. Frayne (both 45); C, Hickey for C. Duke (50); S. Walsh for J. Conlon (64); J. McEntee for R. Kinsella (temp 67-69). CORK: M.A. Martin; S. Meehan, D. O'Mahony (c), M. Shanley; P. Walsh, B. O'Driscoll, M. Taylor; I. Maguire, C. O'Callaghan; S. Powter, S. McDonnell, E. McSweeney; M. Cronin, C. Jones, C. O'Mahony. Subs: R. Deane for S. Powter, R. Maguire for E. McSweeney (50); E. O'Hanlon for C. O'Mahony (56); C. Cahalane for P. Walsh (62); L. Fahy for M. Taylor (temp 64-ft); H. O'Connor for M. Cronin (68). Referee: N. Mooney (Cavan)
BreakingNews.ie
24-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Meath's Matthew Costello happy to see return of excitment to Leinster championship
Meath forward Matthew Costello says he is happy to see the return of excitement to the provincial championships, despite Meath's defeat to Louth in the Leinster final. In the shock of the season so far, Meath ended Dublin's long-standing dominance in the province with a historic win over their rivals in the semi-final in Portlaoise. Advertisement It was the first time Dublin had failed to win Leinster since 2010, when they were also knocked out by Meath. In a thrilling encounter on Sunday, the Royal County came up short against Louth, who claimed their first Leinster title since 1957. Still, Costello took the positives from a day that featured an incredible atmosphere at Croke Park. 'It was an amazing experience. If the result had gone our way, it would probably have been the best sporting day of your life,' said Costello. 'It just wasn't to be. Even the parade before the game was like nothing I had ever experienced, and I'm not sure if I'll get to experience something like that again. Advertisement 'Both sets of fans really gave their all, and it was brilliant to be a part of. 'This year, getting our semi-final into Portlaoise was a great thing. You're basically able to pack out a stadium – the atmosphere that day was brilliant. 'It depends on what the future holds, but maybe we can get 60,000 people in for the Leinster quarter and semi-finals in the future.' Dublin's dominance in recent years had often been used as a stick to beat the provincial championships with, as they routinely ran out comprehensive winners in front of sparse crowds. Advertisement Meath's win over Dublin is one of several games that has brought renewed spark to the provinces – something Costello is pleased to see. 'It's a great thing. The game maybe needed a bit of a spark to get the provincial championships going again. 'When they're so one-sided for so long, people do lose interest. Looking ahead, we just want the provincial championships to be as competitive as possible and in front of as many fans as possible.' In an entertaining and closely fought game, Meath led for spells and were ahead with seven minutes remaining, thanks to Costello's goal. Advertisement However, Louth finished the stronger side, scoring the decisive points and keeping possession in the final moments. For Costello, Sunday's experience was one Meath can learn from. 'I think it was important for us to witness a crowd like that and experience that sort of occasion. If you're going to go anywhere in the sport, you've got to be able to deal with 60,000 or 70,000 people in Croke Park, and that should stand to us in the future. 'It's vital that we get these experiences. You learn more from a loss than from a win, which is hard to say now and hard to take – but we've got to believe it will stand to us. Advertisement 'There are going to be tough days and tough times, but we keep moving forward.' Meath won't have much time to feel sorry for themselves as they face Cork on May 24th in a group that also includes Kerry and Roscommon. 'To be honest, I know it's difficult now because of the magnitude of Sunday, but we're well used to this. 'It's a very tough group – there's no easy draw at this stage of the competition. Everyone feels like they can beat each other. 'Full focus is on Cork for now, but we know we've got tough battles ahead in the group as well.'
