John Cleary: Promotion to Division One key for Cork

'The first thing we need to do is get back into Division One, which is not easy either because Division Two is very competitive. You become battle-hardened then'

DEJECTED: Cork manager John Cleary. Pic: INPHO/Declan Roughan

No Munster final appearance and shown the door in an All-Ireland quarter-final. Look at things like that and Cork haven’t moved an inch in 12 months but only the most stubborn and blind would fail to see a team that has made progress.

Limerick and Louth were the scalps hanging from their pelt before Dublin swept them aside in the last eight in 2022. This time the Rebels ran Kerry to the pin of their collar and undid two Division One sides in Mayo and Roscommon before falling to the Ulster champions.