Cork 'in the mix' for promotion with tough Division 2 run-in to come

Cork have four wins from four games in Division 2 but must travel to face Derry and Tyrone while they will play Kildare at home

Cork manager John Cleary: "Look, two trips to the North and Kildare at home, it's tough, but if we're good enough to get into Division 1, we will." Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

"In the mix." The Cork footballers find themselves in unusual and unfamiliar territory. In their eight previous attempts to escape Division 2, they never once properly challenged for promotion, let alone sat unbeaten and top of the pile four games in.

Across the eight previous failed attempts, only once did they climb as high as eight points at the end of seven rounds. 2026, thus, stands apart. The eight-point total has been reached at the earliest possible opportunity.

Promotion is just up the road from them. But here is where the road becomes potentially troublesome. Two of their remaining three games take John Cleary’s charges far from home.

Sandwiched between the trips to Celtic Park to play Derry and Healy Park to play Tyrone is the visit of Kildare. Hitting the necessary points accumulation to complete the journey back to Division 1 after 10 years away will not be straightforward.

What matters for now, according to Cleary, is that they are at least part of the promotion conversation.

“We've put ourselves in the mix and we'll just see where it goes in the next couple of weeks,” said the Cork boss.

“We knew that our probably easier games were front-loaded in this league and as it came to the end, it was going to get tougher. But at least having victories under your belt, you can go into the tougher games with that confidence of getting victories, so I think that is helping us.

“Look, two trips to the North and Kildare at home, it's tough, but if we're good enough to get into Division 1, we will.” 

Meath were back within the minimum with six minutes remaining. Momentum, the elements, and manpower inside the whitewash were all in their favour.

Tactical nuance went out the window where the hosts were concerned. Cleary praised his players for executing superbly the simple and selfless act of putting their body on the line. There were countless examples. Luke Fahy’s block proved decisive. Denying Adam O’Neill a goal effectively won Cork the game.

“Every team has tactics and you try to set up gameplans, but it comes down to bodies on the line and a bit of courage. I thought our lads, particularly in defence, showed that in the end,” the manager continued.

“Micheál Martin made a great save, Seán Meehan likewise. I actually couldn’t see Luke’s block at the finish because there were so many bodies in front of me!

“[Putting your body on the line] is what we asked for and I think an inter-county player has to have that in their locker. You have to have your head and your skill, but also you have to have backs-to-the-wall, as we had there at the end, and be able to defend and put your body on the line. Thanks be to God we had it in abundance today.” 

No question, agreed Cleary, but Cork refused defeat in the name of Ian Maguire.

Their captain and leader walked on 56 minutes following an off-the-ball altercation with the aforementioned O’Neill. Cork led at the time by 1-21 to 1-15.

“I didn't see why he was sent off. He was having a whale of a game, and it was a blow to us. He has been a leader in the dressing-room for the last 13, 14 years. Definitely, I don't think the lads would have wanted Ian going out the door this evening and we beaten by a point after he was sent off with 14 minutes to go.”