Summary
The All-Ireland SFC final between Cork and Meath was a unique occasion, as it was the first-ever championship meeting between the two teams. Cork were appearing in their first final in over a decade, while Meath were lining out in their second successive All-Ireland SFC decider.
The first half was a dour, tense affair riddled with mistakes. Cork surged ahead into a three-point lead, while Meath only registered one point in the first half after being held scoreless for 27 minutes.
In the second half, Meath were a transformed team. In his column in The Irish Times, Paddy Downey wrote: "Their second half transformation was so unexpected that it seems incredible. Nevertheless, it was a rally which for grit and guts and spirit surpassed anything I have seen in a final." Six minutes after the restart, Terry Kearns slipped unnoticed behind the Cork backline to punch Matt Kerrigan's centre to the net from 5 yards out. Inexperience cost Cork. Their last-minute goal chance was pulled back because Con O'Sullivan's short free to Flor Hayes was deemed too short by the referee.[3]
Meath's All-Ireland SFC victory was their first since 1954. The win gave them their third title over all and put them joint eighth on the all-time roll of honour, along with Mayo, Louth and Cork.
Peter McDermott of Meath, also known as "the man in the cap" and a winner of All-Ireland SFC medals with the team in 1949 and 1954, was coach of the 1967 winning team.[4]
Cork's defeat was their third at this stage since their last All-Ireland SFC victory in 1945. They previously lost All-Ireland SFC finals in 1956 and 1957.
