Cork 3-19 (3-4-11) Meath 1-12 (1-2-8)

Photo: Max Ricken

Cork produced a superb all-round display to book their place in the Electric Ireland All-Ireland Minor Football Championship semi-final with a commanding 3-19 to 1-12 victory over Meath in FBD Semple Stadium.

Fresh from their Munster championship success, Keith Ricken’s side carried that momentum into this quarter-final and controlled proceedings from the opening whistle. Assisted by a strong breeze in the first half, the Rebels built a ten-point interval lead through the excellent scoring contributions of Tom Whooley, Joe Miskella and the influential Kieran O’Shea.

Goalkeeper Rory Twohig was one of Cork’s standout performers, not only excelling between the posts but also contributing an impressive 0-9 from placed balls, including three two-point frees.

Any hopes of a Meath comeback were quickly extinguished after the restart when Eoghan Ahern found the net just 20 seconds into the second half. O’Shea added Cork’s second goal moments later before Miskella capped another outstanding performance with the Rebels’ third major score.

Despite a brief Meath rally, Cork remained composed and continued to dictate the game, showcasing their strength across the field. The 13-point victory sends Cork into their first All-Ireland minor semi-final since 2021, where either Roscommon or Derry will provide the opposition.

Scorers for Cork: 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.

Meath: 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.

CORK: R Twohig (Kilmeen); R McCormack (Midleton), A O’Sullivan (Glanmire), C Garvey (St Finbarr’s); D O’Sullivan (Erin’s Own), C Downing (Adrigole), E Lynch (Ballincollig); K O’Shea (Urhan), C Murphy (Barryroe); E Ahern (Carrigaline), B Hegarty (Ballinora), J Miskella (Ballincollig, c); T Whooley (Clonakilty), J Barry (Aghinagh), D Herlihy (Shamrocks).

MEATH: C Fitzsimmons; B Browne, T Clarke, N Rogan; L O’Donoghue, H McGuirk (c), N Smyth; J Killoran, T Proudfoot; C McKenna, C Brennan, A Keane; C Walsh, M Stafford, D Loughran.

Subs: 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).

Referee: Eamon O’Connor (Offaly).