Cork manager John Cleary was delighted to see Cork make their return to Division One of the Allianz Football League after a 10-year absence.
The three-point win over Tyrone was crucial in the end with both Louth and Derry winning, but the Rebels ultimately ended up top of the second tier pile owing to their head-to-head record against Meath, who they’ll play in next Sunday’s final in Croke Park.
The Rebels were on top in the first half, taking a one-point lead into the break, but the Red Hand had a good third quarter and had moved two points clear midway through the second half.
The Munster men showed character however and outscored their hosts down the home straight, beating them by double scores in that period, 10 points to five.
“We’re thrilled to finally get over the line,” Cleary told RTÉ’s Sunday Sport after the game.
“The last couple of years we’ve been a bit up and down and at times we’re nearer to the bottom than to the top.
“We’ve worked very, very hard and inconsistency probably has cost us within games, and from match to match.
“But look, to win six out of seven games in this ultra-competitive Division 2, we’d have to be pleased. I think we deserve to go up.
“Maybe at times today we rode our luck a small bit but I think we deserved overall in this league to go up to Division 1.
“It’s a big, big achievement for this group of lads. They really dug in when maybe supporters and other people had deserted them.
“I’m thrilled that they’re getting their just reward now this evening.”
Robbie Brennan took in the celebrations with Meath supporters after the game
For Meath manager Robbie Brennan, promotion was the perfect way to continue the momentum the Royals built up last summer.
After beating Dublin in championship for the first time in 15 years, they were disappointingly turned over by neighbours Louth in the Leinster final.
But they recovered to go further than any other county from the eastern province as they reached the All-Ireland semi-final, on a day when they were ultimately outclassed by Donegal.
On Sunday, they were taking on an Offaly side that had already been relegated down to the third tier, and the Royals did what they had to do as they beat them by 10 points.
“Just delighted for the lads, delighted for the coaches, everybody that’s worked so hard,” Brennan told Sunday Sport.
“It’s probably where we should be, that’s the reality. Meath have a proud tradition as a county and I’m just delighted for everybody to be back up there.
“Our focus has always been on just getting better every time we’re together, whether that’s a training session or a game.
“So it gives us another opportunity now next week to go out and try and be better again in Croke Park.”
While it has been just six years since the Royals last competed in the league’s elite division, and Brennan has only been in charge for two of those games, the former All-Ireland club winning manager was quick to push the plaudits onto his players.
“I think a lot of it is probably being player-led,” he said when asked which part of the improvement in the team’s form please him most.
“There’s probably less of us (the management team) and more of the players driving things, which is a dream situation to be in really.
“They’re pushing things on and they’re making better decisions on the pitch, in training and in meetings.”So overall I think it’s been a good league campaign for us and it’s not done yet.”