Cork boss John Cleary: ‘We got a lesson at times from Armagh’

The Rebels chief said he was pleased overall after a thrilling draw with the Orchard County. 

Cork manager John Cleary with Sean Powter against Armagh. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Settle. That is Cork’s ambition. The tendency to lurch from one extreme to the other was apparent in this league campaign as they started with three successive defeats and finished unbeaten in four. A last-round draw ultimately had John Cleary satisfied.

“Overall, we would have to be pleased,” he said after their 2-16 to 2-16 game against Armagh on Saturday night. “An awful lot of lessons again. When you are playing the top teams, you really learn every day you go out. Where Armagh have got to, that is where we are aiming to get to. It is not easy.

“We had to burst every sinew there and still we couldn’t get over the line and get a win. Overall, I’d have to be happy with the display and the way the lads performed in the second half against a sizeable wind.” 

In keeping with the season so far, it was an up-and-down showing. Plenty of positives, some worrying concerns. Chiefly, Killian O’Hanlon came on in the second half only to be replaced again before the final whistle.

“Hamstring, unfortunately. He has no luck really. He missed three or four months, getting back into the last day. We’ll know tomorrow when we do a scan and see the extent of it.” 

Their place in Sam Maguire is now secure but the Rebels boss was striking a cautionary note in his press conference. Cork can’t afford to get carried away with a positive conclusion to the league. Last year they strolled into the opening round of the Munster Championship off the back of a fourth-place finish and were turned over by Clare.

In two weeks’ time they take on Limerick. Clearly is keen to ensure that is all they are thinking about now.

“There is always a huge difference between league and championship. We found last year we did reasonably okay in the league. Then we went in against Clare in the championship and got caught by a sucker punch.

“Basically, what we want to do this year is realise, the league is parked now. Forget about it. When we come back to training during the week it is championship. The ground is faster, the ball is moving quicker. We need to try to learn the lessons from the league here, none more so than tonight. We got a lesson at times from Armagh.”