Corkery clips over insurance score as Regionals open with a cracker

TARA…3-12

MOYFENRAGH…1-16

Ben Corkery clipped over a late insurance score as the realigned Tara amalgam just about saw off those who now represent the Moyfenragh area after a pulsating encounter which raised the curtain on the Meath Regional Football Championship for 2026 at Devenish Park, Dunganny on Sunday afternoon.

Dunshaughlin/Royal Gaels’ had the distinction of recording the first score of this year’s race for the Richie Barry Cup. From there, however, it was the Davy Nelson trained bastions of our famous hill who dominated the second quarter as scores from Trim’s David Lernehan (three, 1x2PT), Finn White, Niall Smullen, Ethan Devine and Liam Jennings fired Joey Farrelly’s charges into a 0-07 to 0-02 advantage.

However, as if to underline the quality of the fare on show, the Moy’ then came with another riposte as the aforementioned Corkery and another of the Dunshaughlin contingent – Aaron Murphy – registered a brace of scores apiece but it was still the men from the hill who led by 0-08 to 0-06 at the change of ends.

Their position becoming even more bountiful when Na Fianna clubman Ethan Devine once again demonstrated his alacrity at nabbing important ‘majors’ when beating Sean Muddiman with the first play of the second half, thus leaving his team five clear.

Again, mind you, Farrelly’s forces rallied and his fellow Walterstown clubman Adam Quinn split the posts twice in quick succession before Clann Na nGael’s Sean Og Tiernan rattled the net to reduce the deficit between the sides to the minimum.

What few could have predicted though was the pendulum rotating a full 360 degrees as John Finnerty of Skryne stole forward and netted before the classy Corkery again prompted the elevation of another green flag before the mighty Quinn sent over another single to complete the 13 point turnaround as Farrelly’s forces went from thirsty for scores to seven up!

Moyfenragh’s menacing presence hadn’t been entirely quenched at that point mind you and a double of doubles from David Lernehan – a sublime effort – and Josh Harford allied to a single courtesy of the boot of Ballivor’s Nicky Potterton cut the deficit to the minimum before Corkery’s late clincher.

Scorers: Tara – B. Corkery (1-3), J. Finnerty and S. Og Tiernan (1-0 each), A. Quinn (0-4), A. McDermott and A. McDonnell (0-2 each), J. Rushe (0-1).

Moyfenragh – D. Lernahan (0-7, 3x2PT), E. Devine (1-1), L. Jennings and J. Harford (0-2 each), B. McKeown, N. Potterton, N. Smullen and F. White (0-1 each).

Referee – Cormac Reilly (St Mary’s)