CORK have had their opening-day struggles in the past decade but they got their Division 2 campaign off on the right foot with a four-point victory against Meath.
This was an open, entertaining game played under the new rules, although these two produced an equally exciting 3-14 to 0-19 encounter in the equivalent fixture two years ago.
Colm O’Rourke got his managerial term off to a winning start that day but Robbie Brennan’s inter-county debut went the other way as Cork grabbed the goals this time through Matty Taylor and Chris Óg Jones, who finished with 1-4.
Cork manager John Cleary said: “There are a lot more scores. Under the old rules, it is unlikely we would have had that many scores.
“It is more enjoyable to coach. And it is more enjoyable to watch. And the players are loving it as well. It is a win-win.”
He added: “This is the first time since I’ve been involved in the last four years that we’ve won the first game so there’s relief in that.”
While the Rebels executed the majority of their chances, Meath missed far too many opportunities.
Brennan said: “You look at the numbers and I think it was 11 scoreable frees we conceded and then we’ve missed 19 opportunities.
“Huge frustration in the dressing room because we came down to win and we feel we’ve left that one behind us.”
In terms of the new rules, Cork scored the only two-pointer of the first half from a free outside the 40-metre arc.
But their failure to keep three players beyond the halfway line saw them penalised with a 14-metre free to level 0-11 apiece at the break.
Meath committed the same offence after the break with Mark Cronin taking the option to move the free back outside the 40-metre arc for a successful two-pointer.
Both sides pushed their goalkeeper forward throughout to manufacture 12-on-11 situations in the opposition half.
Adventurous Meath stopper Billy Hogan collected a couple of assists and had three shots at the posts, scoring one when spinning between two tacklers.
The teams traded points through the first quarter with impressive kicks from Mathew Costello, who ended with 0-10, and Jack Flynn before a Seán Coffey solo-and-go led to a handpassed point from Jordan Morris.
Cork trailed by one but slingshot into the lead with new free-taker Brian O’Driscoll splitting the posts from a free outside the arc.
There was space left in behind by players defending the arc and both teams almost exposed it before the break.
The threatening Morris had a shot on goal saved by Micheál Aodh Martin and Colm O’Callaghan cracked the woodwork after a smart one-two.
Cork’s first goal arrived in the 41st minute with wing-backs Seán Powter and Taylor combining for the latter to chip into the far corner.
It was 1-13 to 0-13 but Meath levelled for a 10th time with quickfire points from Shane Walsh, new captain Eoghan Frayne, and Hogan.
Cork reeled off the next 1-5 without reply, with the goal in the 57th minute. Hogan saved Jones’ first effort but he netted the rebound for a 2-18 to 0-16 lead.
Costello attempted a pair of late two-point frees, including one brought outside the arc after sub-keeper Patrick Doyle took too long over a kick-out, and scored one, but they couldn’t get within touching distance.
CORK: MA Martin; M Shanley, D O’Mahony, N Lordan; S Powter, R Maguire, M Taylor 1-0; S Walsh, C O’Callaghan; P Walsh 0-1, E McSweeney, B O’Driscoll 0-6 (2f, 1tpf); M Cronin 0-7 (5f, 1tpf), C Óg Jones 1-4, S McDonnell.
Subs: P Doyle for Martin 52, C O’Mahony 0-1 for McDonnell 52, D Cashman for Powter 62, É Desmond for S Walsh 66, T Walsh for McSweeney 70+1.
MEATH: B Hogan 0-1; A O’Neill, S Lavin, D Keoghan; E Harkin 0-2, S Coffey, C Caulfield; J Flynn 0-1, B Menton; K Curtis, S Walsh 0-2, J Kinlough; J Morris 0-4, M Costello 0-10 (5f, 1tpf), E Frayne 0-1.
Subs: B O’Halloran for O’Neill 50, C Duke for Curtis 54, J Conlon for Walsh 56, R Jones for Frayne 61, S Rafferty for Caulfield 61.
Referee: D O’Mahony (Tipperary).
