1990 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final

Match

This year's final was played on 16 September.

Summary

For the third time in four years Cork faced Meath in an All-Ireland SFC decider, as the reigning champions did battle with the champions of 1987 and 1988. In the first half, Cork had built up a nice lead before there plans were derailed somewhat. A pumped-up Colm O'Neill hit Meath's Mick Lyons, and was dismissed from the field of play. In spite of this, Cork still held a one-point lead at half-time.

The second half was a dour struggle. Cork's strategy of isolating Meath's extra player worked well as Shay Fahy dominated midfield. The final score of 0–11 to 0–9 gave Cork the title.

Cork's All-Ireland SFC final victory was the second in succession, the first and only time in the team's history to have retained the title. The win gave the team a sixth All-Ireland SFC title overall, and put them fourth in their own right on the all-time roll of honour.

Meath were appearing in a first All-Ireland SFC final since they triumphed in 1988. Defeat at the hands of Cork was the first of back-to-back All-Ireland SFC final defeats for the Royal County.

1990 is regarded as the greatest year in the history of the GAA in Cork. In winning the All-Ireland SFC title against Meath, Cork achieved a rare double, as the Cork senior hurling team had earlier claimed the All-Ireland SHC title against Galway. It also marked the 100th anniversary of Cork achieving their previous double.

Cork's Denis Walsh, as a substitute, and Teddy McCarthy became dual All-Ireland medallists once again; however, McCarthy's achievement was the most spectacular of all. As a member of the starting fifteen in both codes he became the first player in the history of the Gaelic Athletic Association to win All-Ireland medals in both codes in the same season. It is a record which still stands.

The referee played 9 seconds of additional time.

Details

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References

References

1. Russell, Adrian. (16 September 2020). "The Double 30 years on: 'When Paddy Russell blew the whistle, the roar was ferocious'". [[Irish Examiner]].
2. Lyons, Tom. (18 August 2007). "Cork v Meath here we go again !". The Southern Star.
3. (15 August 2007). "Cork v Meath: Latest chapter in an old rivalry". Irish Independent.
4. (2021). "The Complete Handbook of GAELIC GAMES". DBA.
5. (16 September 2020). "The Double 30 years on - Part 1: 'Sometimes you had to be a little bit nasty'". Irish Examiner.
6. Moran, Seán. (11 September 2019). "Will time be on Dublin's side once more?". [[The Irish Times]].