Cleary: 'If we want to make progress, those are the challenges that we've got to try and overcome'

With their Division 2 League campaign throwing-in away to Jim McGuinness’ Donegal on Sunday week, followed a week later by another away assignment against Louth, Cleary welcomes this latest Kerry stress-test.

CHALLENGES: Cork manager John Cleary with selector Micheal O'Croinin against Waterford during the McGrath cup at Mallow. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

John Cleary has repeatedly stressed that Cork football is on a journey. A journey to drag themselves up alongside the market leaders. A journey to bring them from being competitive when stood opposite these market leaders to consistently bettering them.

A journey of finding improvement and then sustaining it.