Second-half surge sees Meath overcome Cork on Leeside

A much improved second half performance from Meath saw them edge out Cork in their Allianz Football League Division 2 clash Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Colm O'Rourke's scored 2-08 against the breeze on their way to a four-point victory.

The Royals looked nervous in the opening minutes as good Cork pressure saw Stephen Sherlock pop two easy frees over from in front of the posts.

In the tenth minute, and completely against the run of play, Meath took the lead after a fine roving run from Shane Walsh.

He breezed past Kevin O'Donovan with ease before turning inside and burying the ball past Michéal Aodh Martin in the Cork goal.

Cork looked much the more confident side in attack in the opening quarter, asking all of the right questions of the Royals early on. Mattie Taylor had a gilt-edged chance of a goal on 18 minutes but was denied by the fingertips of Harry Hogan pulling off a fantastic save.

The sides were level on 25 minutes with Matthew Costello pointing from a free.

The impressive Sherlock was proving a handful for the Meath defence and helped himself to his eight point of the game just before the break.

Cork led at half time on a score line of 0-11 to 1-06 and despite plenty of positives will have been disappointed to only be two ahead at the break.

O'Rourke's side came out with intent after the break and two quick fire scores from Morris and Walsh gave them the start they would have wanted.. Much improved energy and work rate right across the field.

The purple patch finally arrived for Meath on 52 minutes with Jordan Morris firing to the back of the net for Meath to edge them into the lead entering the final quarter of the game. Jason Scully did all of the hard work in the build up advancing towards goal before finding Morris for an