Cleary: give young Rebels time

CORK U21 boss John Cleary has warned that the county’s recent U21 triumphs will not automatically lead to senior success.

Ahead of Sunday’s Munster SFC semi-final against Kerry, expectations have heightened around Cork’s prospect at senior level this season after last month’s All-Ireland U21 win over Down, but Cleary believes it will take time for the fruits of that success to be seen.

“There is a big, big difference between U21 and senior. You look at U21, there’s only a snapshot of a year or whatever. Kerry have had the knack of getting a few out of every U21 team and bringing them forward, blending them with the stronger senior guys. I remember a few years back Limerick won three U21 hurling in-a-row and people said they were the next thing, but it didn’t automatically happen.