Meath ring the changes ahead of Cork encounter

Meath have opted to make three changes in personnel from the side defeated by Westmeath in the Leinster SFC Quarter-Final for Saturday evening’s GAA Football All-Ireland Championship Round 1 game against Cork.

Coming into the side for the game in Páirc Uí Rinn are Adam O’Neill, Cathal Hickey and Mathew Costello with Jack Flynn, Ruairí Kinsella and Seamus Lavin making way.

Tickets are on sale via Meath vs Cork Tickets and usual Centra/SuperValu stores.

PRICING – [Unreserved Seating]

Adults: €25.00
Student/OAP: €20.00
Juveniles: €5.00

Wheelchair Tickets:-
Wheelchair Ticket are free of charge and the Assistant’s ticket is €25. [Limited number available].

There are many ways to purchase tickets for GAA matches including:

On-line: https://am.ticketmaster.com/gaa/gaasfc2026
Selected SuperValu & Centra.
Office in Dunganny during office hours.

There are also a number of positional switches for the Royal County with Donal Keogan dropping back into corner back, Seán Coffey going to wing back and Bryan Menton reverting to centre back. In the attack Jordan Morris lines out at centre forward for the first time.

Seán Brennan will maintain his record of starting every League and Championship game to date this year when lining out between the uprights and the game will bring up a quarter of century of appearances for the Dunderry net minder.

With Seamus Lavin reverting to the replacements bench, Donal Keogan lines out in the right corner back position that he made his own when breaking into the side back in 2013 and he is joined in the full back line by Seán Rafferty and Brian O’Halloran.

Seán Coffey who previously lined out at wing back in 2023 and 2024 switches back out to the wing, this time at right half back, with Ciarán Caulfield on the opposite flank of the defence and Bryan Menton will anchor the defence from centre back.

The game is a landmark one for the Donaghmore/Ashbourne clubman as he makes both his 50th Championship appearance (the first came back in 2011 against Kildare) and his 160th appearance across all competitions.

29 March 2026; Bryan Menton of Meath celebrates after his side’s victory in the Allianz Football League Division 2 final match between Meath and Cork at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

There is a new look partnership in midfield as Cian McBride and Adam O’Neill link up, possibly the first midfield pairing of players from Gaeltacht clubs in the counties history.

Jordan Morris who up to this point has been deployed in the full forward line will make a first appearance at centre forward and the Kingscourt Stars man will be flanked by Jack O’Connor at right half forward and Cathal Hickey who makes his first start of the season.

Having missed the closing stages of the Allianz Football League and the opening round of the Leinster SFC through injury, Mathew Costello returns to the fold at top of the right and he is joined in the inside line of the attack by team captain Eoghan Frayne and Aaron Lynch.

19 April 2026; Aaron Lynch of Meath during the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship quarter-final match between Meath and Westmeath at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore, Offaly. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Among the replacements, there are potential Championship debuts for Charlie O’Connor and Jamie Murphy, two members of the 2024 Leinster U-20 Football Championship winning side.

	Ainm an Imreoir	Club	Líon Iomlán na gCluichí Imeartha
1.	Seán Ó Braonáin	Dún Doire	24
2.	Dónall Mac Eochagáin	Rath Cheannaigh	190
3.	Seán Ó Raifeartaigh	Na Fianna	26
4.	Brían Ó hAllúráin	Baile Íomhair	30
5.	Seán Ó Cofaigh	Baile na Breacaighe	40
6.	Brían Ó Maintain	Domhnach Mór/Cill Dhéagláin	159
7.	Ciarán Mac Cathmhaoil	Átha Troim	41
8.	Cian Mac Giolla Bhríde	Na Dúnaibh	23
9.	Ádhamh Ó Néill	Bhulf Tón	43
10.	Seán Ó Conchobhair	Currach Átha	56
11.	Jordan Ó Muiris	Réaltaí Dhún a Rí	63
12.	Cathal Ó hIcí	Baile Sencaill	55
13.	Maitiú Mac Coisdealbhaigh	Domhnach Seachnaill	65
14.	Eoghan de Fréin	Druim Samhraidh	39
15.	Árón Ó Loingsigh	Átha Troim	36
Ionadaí
16.	Liam Ó hÓgáin	Maigh Dearmhaí	24
17.	Rónán Ó Riain	Druim Samhraidh	60
18.	Cillian Mac Gabhann	Baile an Chaisleán	6
19.	Séarlas Ó Conchúir	Domhnach Seachnaill	2
20.	Rónán Mac Seóin	Naomh Peadar Dún Bóinne	52
21.	Ceitheach de Cuirtéis	Rath Cheannaigh	31
22.	Seosamh Ó Conluáin	Naomh Colmcille	51
23.	Oisín Ó Máirtín	Bhulf Tón	5
24.	Séamus Mac an tSaoi	Currach Átha	71
25.	Séamié Ó Murchú	Naomh Pádraig	1
26.	Séamus Ó Lamhain	Naomh Peadar Dún Bóinne	70

Last 5 Championship Meetings

2025	Meath	1-13 (16)	0-12 (12)	Cork	All-Ireland Football Championship Round 1	Páirc Tailteann
2007	Cork	1-16 (19)	0-09 (9)	Meath	All-Ireland Semi-Final	Croke Park
1999	Meath	1-11 (14)	1-08 (11)	Cork	All-Ireland Final	Croke Park
1990	Cork	0-11 (11)	0-09 (9)	Meath	All-Ireland Final	Croke Park
1988	Meath	0-13 (13)	0-12 (12)	Cork	All-Ireland Final Replay	Croke Park

24 May 2025; The Meath squad before the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 1 match between Meath and Cork at Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Meath. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

Match Officials

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Cill Dara)

14 March 2026; Referee Brendan Cawley during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Derry at DEFY Pairc Mhuire in Ardee, Louth. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

Standby Referee: Martin McNally (Muineachán)
Line Umpire: Anthony Nolan (Cill Mhantáin)
Sideline Official: Eoin Morrissey (Port Láirge)
Time Official: David Grogan (Tiobraid Árann)
Score Umpires: Dave Coady, Eoghan Fitzpatrick, Johnny Farrell & Paddy McDermott