TWO goals in each half enabled a slicker Cork side to win the All Ireland junior football title in Thurles on Saturday at the expense of a Meath team which finished with 13 men.

With Paul Murphy dominating a midfield and Paddy Hayes a towering full forward, Cork took control from the start. They had a Jonathan McCarthy goal after six minutes and in the 23rd minute Hayes's looping shot curled over Meath goalkeeper John O'Sullivan's head for a goal. Cork led 2-8 to 0-7 at the interval. Seven minutes into the second half John Clifford struck a decisive blow for Cork with their third goal after Hayes's shot was bravely saved by O'Sullivan. Meath then lost Ritchie Kealy who was sent off for a high tackle.

Cork set the seal on their victory with a Noel Twomey goal seven minutes from the end. Two minutes from time Cork's John Clifford and Meath's Ned Kearney were sidelined. Indicative of Meath's day was a penalty miss in injury time by Peter Sullivan.