'There was no let-up from our boys' - Impressive Cork sweep into semi-final after Meath mauling
Cork's Donal Herlihy in action against Meath's Niall Smyth during the quarter-final clash between Cork and Meath at FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles. Photo: Diarmuid Brennan/Sportsfocus.
Cork’s dismantling of Meath at Semple Stadium on Saturday ticked every box for manager Keith Ricken.
It was emphatic in every sense but what pleased the St Vincent’s clubman most was the composure, clarity and collective purpose behind the 13-point victory in the All-Ireland MFC quarter final. Ricken's lads now advance to meet Derry in the last four on Saturday week.
This was Cork’s most complete display of the season, delivered on the day it mattered most, and it sends them into their first All-Ireland semi-final since 2021 with momentum and belief.
“We are delighted with the win as I’ve seen Meath play a few times this year… I thought they were a good side, they’re only young lads, it’s hard for them,” he said post-match.
“It took us a few minutes to adapt to the wind. Meath elected to play against it. We kicked some good scores then and had a couple of goal chances we were unlucky with. Even with a nine-point interval lead, I wasn’t fully comfortable. With that breeze, that mightn’t have been enough at times.
“But our backs were playing well, midfielders were playing well, and the forwards were working very hard. They’re a lovely bunch of fellas… humble, they listen, they apply themselves.
“If you walked into our dressing room today, you wouldn’t know who was playing and who wasn’t. They’re exceptionally united.”
If the Munster final win over Kerry was about grit, character and “stickability”, this All-Ireland quarter-final was about football — and Cork showed that in abundance.
“We didn’t play well in the Munster final, there were a lot of errors. We were a bit more polished today… not fully there yet, but better.
“There was no let-up from our boys. It was difficult for a couple of our lads who are doing their Leaving Cert and that’s a different kind of pressure. Others then doing their Junior Cert. That’s energy-sapping.
“In fairness, the players were excellent, every single one of them. Overall, we have to be pleased, especially playing on a big pitch like Thurles. This was a knockout game; previously this year, we always had a second chance.
“We delivered today, but we have a lot to work on too.”
The headline performance belonged to goalkeeper Rory Twohig, whose 0-9 — including three orange flags from long-range frees — gave Cork a platform and Meath a problem they never solved.
“They were crucial in terms of the timing and the execution,” Ricken said.
“Rory has them in his locker since he was a young boy… but it’s not just the skill set, it’s the mentality.
“He’s exceptional at evaluating his thoughts, evaluating his kick. If something goes wrong, he’s honest about it. He doesn’t need anyone to tell him. I’m delighted he gets the accolade — but he doesn’t need it. For all of the players, for the rest of their lives now, they’ll pass Thurles and have fond memories. Fond memories of playing with Cork… that won’t be forgotten.
“Feelings and emotions are the currency we deal with. We’re trying to get that into them so they want to play for Cork and in a couple of years’ time, they’ll want to play with the U20s.”
Cork were 0-13 to 0-3 ahead at half-time and wind or no wind, Cork’s momentum didn’t ebb. They made the perfect start to the second half with a goal after just 20 seconds — Jacob Barry picking out an unmarked Eoghan Ahern, who finished superbly. Twohig added a free before Harry McGuirk hit a two-pointer for Meath, but a Royal revival never looked likely.
: R Twohig 0-9 (3 2pt f, 0-2 45, 0-1 f), J Miskella 1-3 (1 2pt), T Whooley 0-4, K O’Shea, E Ahern 1-0 each, B Hegarty, A O’Herlihy, C Murphy 0-1 each.
: H McGuirk 1-4 (1 2pt), C Walsh 0-3, M Stafford 0-2 (1 2pt f), N Smyth, C McKenna, C Brennan 0-1 each.
R Twohig; R McCormack, A O’Sullivan, C Garvey; D O’Sullivan, C Downing, E Lynch; K O’Shea, C Murphy; E Ahern, B Hegarty, J Miskella (capt); T Whooley, J Barry, D Herlihy.
: A O’Herlihy for D Herlihy (45), K O’Donovan for D O’Sullivan (49), P Kelly for C Murphy (54), M Walsh for B Hegarty, D O’Mahony for J Barry (both 58).
: C Fitzsimmons; B Browne, T Clarke, N Rogan; L O’Donoghue, H McGuirk (capt), N Smyth; J Killoran, T Proudfoot; C McKenna, C Brennan, A Keane; C Walsh, M Stafford, D Loughran.
: H Keating for J Killoran (h-t), L Kavanagh for T Proudfoot (36), T Dillon for D Loughran (40), H Moffat for C Walsh (49), O Farrelly for L O’Donoghue (55).
: Eamon O’Connor (Offaly).
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