Colm O'Rourke: Meath in a 'good place' after opening victory over Cork

Colm O'Rourke says he's delighted to have started his time in charge of Meath with a victory after they saw off Cork at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The Royals went goal mad by the banks of the Lee as majors from Shane Walsh, Jordan Morris and Cillian O'Sullivan helped them to claim the two points on offer.

O'Rourke, speaking on RTÉ's Sunday Sport, admitted afterwards that he fancied his players to put in a big performance, having seen them in training earlier this week.

"I'm delighted, particularly for the players who have shown such commitment and enthusiasm for the task," he said.

"When I came into the job last year I didn't know what sort of response [I'd get] and it has been absolutely fantastic. I couldn't say enough about the players so it's due reward for them."

Meath trailed by two points at the break, despite Walsh's goal, but they were much stronger in the second half, outscoring their hosts by 2-08 to 0-08.

O'Rourke couldn't pinpoint the exact advice he had given in the dressing room at half-time to enact the turnabout but he said the upping of their performance pleased him.

"I can't remember, we didn't say much," he said.

"I thought the lads were a bit nervous in the first half. We were lucky to be only two behind at half time because Cork were in control of the first half.

"I more or less said, 'don't worry, go out and play.' There was a lot of nervousness with a lot of players and they brought much more energy to the second half, and kicked on.

"They got some very good goals and could have got another couple. I'd say Cork would be disappointed in that they controlled quite a bit of the game, and let us in for what they might term soft goals.

"We created about six clear goal chances. At the end of the game I was very happy with