Meath see off Cork in race to avoid Division 2 drop

A first win of the Allianz League Division 2 campaign brought relief for relegation-threatened Meath who shrugged off Cork with relative ease in Navan.

With just two draws from four previous outings, the Royals badly needed a home win and duly delivered with their best performance of the campaign so far.

Leading by five points at half-time, Meath then reeled off 1-04 without reply in the third quarter - joint top scorer Jordan Morris with the 53rd minute goal from a penalty - to open up a 10-point lead.

It was a vital cushion that allowed Andy McEntee's men to absorb a mini-Cork revival that included a goal from substitute Joe Grimes.

Morris finished with 1-02 while the return of former captain Bryan Menton for his first action of the year after injury was significant, the Donaghmore-Ashbourne man booting two points and locking down the midfield alongside Ronan Jones.

Goalkeeper Harry Hogan drilled 0-05 from frees while Thomas O'Reilly impressed throughout, scoring a point and winning a series of frees that were converted.

The result gives Meath a strong chance of staying in Division 2 with ties against Clare (away) and Derry (home) to come though rock bottom Cork, still with just a point after five outings, are now in real bother.

Their remaining games are against Down (home) and Offaly (away).

Meath were without captain Shane McEntee due to a tour of duty with the Irish Defence Forces so Cillian O'Sullivan wore the armband and led the line well.

The Moynalvey man lined out in a potent full-forward line alongside Shane Walsh and Morris and the trio caused Cork plenty of trouble.

Between them, they accounted for five of Meath's 11 first-half points with the hosts striding 0-11 to 0-06 clear at half-time.

Meath, with Menton and