Meath v Cork Finals

1967: Meath - 1-9, Cork - 09

Att: 70,343

1987: Meath - 0-13, Cork - 0-12

Att: 68,431

1988: Meath - 0-12, Cork - 1-9

Att: 63,000

Rep: Meath - 0-13 , Cork - 0-12

Att: 64,069

1990: Cork - 0-11, Meath - 0-9

Att: 65,723

1967 - Meath's third All-Ireland crown was fashioned from a position where they had only registered one point in the first half - Cork led 0-4 to 0-1 at half-time. The decisive goal was scored by Terry Kearns. Mattie Kerrigan launched a long ball from midfield, Kearns ran on to it and slapped the ball with the back of his hand over advancing Cork goalkeeper Billy Morgan.

Paddy Downey's Irish Times verdict: "As a spectacle it was an unsatisfactory final. Fifty-one frees riddled the hour and the tackling was often crunchingly heavy."

1987 - Cork ran up an early five-point lead, but Meath were steadied by a Colm O'Rourke goal 10 minutes before the break which proved the game's turning point. Other notable contributions on the day came from Brian Stafford, who scored seven points, four from play, and also a Billy Morgan cameo - the Cork manager got involved with Meath players after Jimmy Kerrigan was floored.

Paddy Downey's verdict: " . . . not a classic, but it was fought with great intensity and courage and provided a measure of good football - most of it played by Meath as, with increasing power, they swept to a decisive victory."

1988 - One that got away for Cork. Referee Tommy Sugrue was immersed in controversy after he awarded an injury-time free for a dubious foul on David Beggy. Brian Stafford converted from close range to earn the replay. That was bad enough, but Cork had missed a litany of chances - compiling 14 wides to Meath's six - throughout the game, including goal opportunities in each half. Even then they were 1-8 to 0-8 clear with 12 minutes remaining.

Paddy Downey's verdict: "All of the drama and tension were packed in the hectic final minutes as Meath rose from the dead to salvage a last-gasp draw. They may not give Cork such a golden chance of victory in the replay."

1988 replay - A score-settling opening few minutes ended with Gerry McEntee sent to the line for striking Cork's Niall Cahalane. Meath played with 14 men for nearly 65 minutes - "two more Meathmen were fortunate not to follow McEntee in the first half," wrote Paddy Downey - but prevailed in a one-point win. Joe Cassells, playing his first championship game of the season, played a captain's role while Martin O'Connell was at his finest. Stafford, with seven points, all but one from placed balls, was Meath's biggest scorer, while Colm O'Rourke pitched in with three points. Larry Tompkins scored eight of Cork's tally from placed balls, while Cork again won the wides tally - nine to two.

Paddy Downey's verdict: "It can only be described as a disagreeable, ill-tempered affair, as rough and tough as everyone expected since Meath had declared after the draw that they would contest the replay with all of their old aggression."

1990 - Cork's only win over Meath in a final on the day the double became a done deal. This time Cork defied a one-man deficit - Colm O'Neill was sent off just after the half hour - to emerge two-point victors. Shea Fahy, a four-point contributor from midfield, was man of the match, and got great support from Danny Culloty, while Stephen O'Brien kept Colm O'Rourke scoreless as Meath only managed five points from play.

Paddy Downey's verdict: "It was a tremendous contest, an awesome test of physical courage and endurance, the toughest AllIreland that this writer has ever seen."