Meath 1-22; Cork 2-17
A Royal Command second half showing powered Meath to the Division 2 title at Croke Park, with an unanswered run of eight points turning the tide against a Cork side who battled to the end but always were a shadow less certain about their play at Croke Park on Sunday.
Manager Robbie Brennan has now seen his side secure both promotion and silverware to go with the promise of his first season last year. The big question now for Royal fans will be to see if he can continue to work the oracle by winning the Leinster provincial title and becoming a real threat in the ensuing race for Sam?
Even when they trailed by three midway through the second half as Steven Sherlock’s accuracy proved a real handful, Meath didn’t panic but upped their game to wrestle control around the middle and with their sharpshooters all standing up, they got the scores to see them over the line.
Young Jack O’Connor’s goal - and what a solo score this was - proved a key moment, as he finished with 1-2, while the decision to leave substitute James Conlon off at the start was a stroke of genius as he came on and kicked four magnificent points.
Center forward Ruairí Kinsella impressed with five points, including a pair of two-pointers, while Jordan Morris, Eoghan Frayne and goalkeeper Seán Brennan also chipped in consistently.
Meath’s midfield, led by Jack Flynn, gained the upper hand during that pivotal spell, helping to swing momentum firmly in their favor.
The disappointment for the Rebels will be tempered by their performance and the fact that they still move up to Division 1 and will look ahead with confidence to their Munster semi-final against Limerick.
The first half was tightly contested, with Cork edging ahead by two at the interval. Meath’s early use of long-range scoring gave them an initial advantage, but Cork responded strongly as Sherlock found his rhythm.
Chris Óg Jones and Morris traded scores, while Meath’s inefficiency - including several wides from ambitious attempts - proved costly.
Jones’ goal early in the second half pushed Cork further ahead, but O’Connor’s emphatic finish soon after reignited Meath.
From there, Meath seized control, piling on scores while Cork struggled with their restarts. Although a late goal from supersub Brian Hurley narrowed the gap, Meath managed the closing stages effectively to see out the win.
Afterward Meath Manager Brennan could hardly hide his delight at the outcome. “We’re delighted to be in Croke Park, it's a phenomenal place. I always say you can't be in here [Croke Park] enough and today's another good day. We had a tough day here in the Leinster final last year but they're all learning moments and the difference in how we saw the game out there at the end was really encouraging.
“We'll let the lads have a few days off. There's a few of them there that have been belting away for years, the likes of Keogy (Donal Keogan) and Mento (Bryan Menton) - Cillian O'Sullivan's there on the bench as well. I'm absolutely delighted for them. You can hear them in there, they're hooping and hollering, and rightly so.
“They deserve it, a few pints, whatever they want to do and we'll be ready to rock on Wednesday or Thursday of next week.”
Incredibly, Meath will now be the sole Leinster representative in Division 1 next season with relegated Dublin joining Louth and Wexford in the second tier as Offaly and Kildare descend even lower to Division 3 alongside Westmeath and newly promoted Carlow and Longford.
The Royals will begin their quest for a first provincial crown since 2010 in just over two and a half weeks against the winners of Longford and Westmeath.
Down 0-21; Wexford 0-18
Down produced a stirring late recovery to overcome Wexford in the Division 3 final, eventually securing victory after extra time following a dramatic finish in normal time.
Trailing by three points entering the final minutes, the Ulster side showed composure and determination, reeling off a sequence of scores to force extra time before finishing strongly.
Down boss Conor Laverty hailed his team's resilience as they fought back from three points down late on in the Allianz Football League Division 3 final against Wexford before going on to claim victory in extra-time.
“That will really stand to the lads, it was a good test of character,” Laverty told RTÉ Sport after the 0-21 to 0-18 victory at Croke Park.
“We knew coming here wasn't going to be easy so we're just delighted to come out with a win. Just a range of mixed emotions from start to finish. We were in control in the first half, had the penalty opportunity. Then in the middle of the second half, Wexford were very, very dominant and were on top of us.
“I just felt it was good character to be able to come back there with six or seven minutes to go whenever you're three points down.
“I think they showed good resilience and maybe a bit of experience. Over the past number of years, we've been in a lot of difficult spots, so I think that's shone through then coming down the home straight.”
Promotion ensures a return to Sam Maguire football, which Laverty identified as the primary target at the start of the campaign.
He said: “The lads have been on the road now a lot of weeks in succession so they'll probably get a week off now and then get back to their clubs for a couple of nights and then we'll get back at it.”
Carlow 1-24; Longford 2-18
Carlow’s dramatic extra-time win over Longford delivered a series of historic milestones, and manager Joe Murphy is eager to see the impact carry into the championship.
It marked a first senior football title at Croke Park, a long-awaited victory at headquarters, and their first national success in decades — sparking emotional celebrations among players and supporters alike.
“Look, you saw the stand, you saw the people at the end of it, you saw the colours flying and we're not really used to that," Murphy told RTÉ Sport afterwards.
“I've never been a footballer with Carlow or with Éire Óg, or a manager with Naas or anything, (and) won at Croke Park before, so I can only imagine how the people of Carlow are going home tonight and there'll be a good celebration.
“What might have detracted people from coming today was there being so much hurt here, down through the years, Carlow, and it's a big sacrifice now with the cost of living to go to Dublin; if you're going with high expectations of winning you might just get into that car or get on that bus a little bit quicker.
“We have Wicklow in two weeks’ time and that’s at home in Carlow, and we'll see the full value of that win today. So it's all stepping stones, we're just trying to build blocks and put a bit of foundation into the thing and give Carlow people that sense that we can achieve, we can get better, and we don't fear, you can't play with fear.
“There are so many teams better than us but there is fight in us and we showed that today. It's a thing to really enjoy, and to really take it on board, and realise that the wee county of Carlow has brought home national silverware.
“Be proud of it, and it might influence a few young lads to think that they can be here, and see what's at the end of it. That's all we want to do in Carlow, just build those blocks for success in the future,” he declared.
Carlow had looked in control for long stretches but were pushed all the way before finally prevailing in a chaotic and entertaining contest.
Murphy believes the unpredictable nature of the league has helped shape his side’s progress and is optimistic about building on this breakthrough.
“They absolutely warranted the win, but we were just so bad, and it's actually reflected through all the divisions if you look back over the scorelines,
“I saw Cork with a great performance against Meath and then Derry gave them a bit of a spanking the following week. It's crazy.
“But it's nearly the best competition. The championship, it's great, the sun's on your back and there's a Sam Maguire at stake, and we'll take that very seriously and we'll prepare for it and go as far as we can in it, but the league is just electric and I think it's great entertainment.
“I've enjoyed every game we’ve been in, frustrating at times, but to get out of Division 4 and now we can ply our trade and take on the challenge of Division 3, it's just very exciting."
That’s for 2027 - Wicklow on April 12 at Dr Cullen Park awaits, a day where the new league champions are sure to receive a very nice welcome after this memorable occasion.
GAA RESULTS
FL Division 1 final
Donegal 3-20 Kerry 2-10
FL Division 2 final
Meath 1-22 Cork 2-17
FL Division 3 final
Down 0-21 Wexford 0-18
FL Division 4 final
Carlow 1-24 Longford 2-18
HL Division 2 final
Laois 3-18 Kerry 0-13
HL Division 3 final
Wicklow 3-16 Donegal 2-18
HL Division 4 final
Sligo 2-21 Longford 4-12
Ladies NFL Division 1
Dublin 2-8 Cork 1-6
Kerry 2-10 Kildare 2-9
Meath 0-11 Armagh 1-8
Waterford 2-12 Galway 0-12
Ladies NFL Division 2
Westmeath 1-15 Cavan 2-9
Donegal 0-11 Wexford 0-3
Mayo 2-14 Monaghan 0-9
Tyrone 5-10 Tipperary 5-5
Ladies NFL Division 3
Antrim 2-8 Down 1-9
Clare 2-9 Roscommon 2-9
Laois 0-9 Louth 0-8
Fermanagh 2-10 Limerick 1-7
Ladies NFL Division 4 semi-finals
Carlow 4-11 Offaly 2-8
Leitrim 2-10 Sligo 1-11
Leinster U20HC Phase 1 Round 2
Meath 3-14 Carlow 0-9
Kildare 3-14 Westmeath 1-14
Munster U20FC Phase 1 round 2
Clare 1-12 Waterford 0-6
Ulster U20FC
Derry 5-20 Fermanagh 0-3
Donegal 2-19 Antrim 2-7
Leinster MHC Phase 1 - Round 2
Kerry 2-15 Carlow 0-9
Kildare 1-17 Wicklow 1-9
Munster MFC Phase 1 round 1
Tipperary 1-4 Limerick 1-9
