John Cleary: 'The consequences of the result were pretty big today'
REPRIVE: Cork's win over Louth eases their relegation worries with one more game to go and a lot to play for. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Cork’s relegation worries eased. For now, at least.
Cork’s Tailteann Cup worries eased. For now, at least.
As they did in the spring of 2021, ‘22, and last year, the Cork footballers delivered when nothing other than victory would suffice. Backed into a corner, they again squeezed a route out.
Having spent Saturday night in the Division 2 dropzone, off the back of Down’s win over Westmeath, a third consecutive League defeat here would have been near fatal.
Instead, John Cleary’s charges head for the final round in fifth place and two points above relegation. A result of some sort is still required in Cavan to make absolutely certain of safety and Sam Maguire status, but the pressure is considerably lessened by this most timely triumph.
“The consequences of the result were pretty big today,” began a relieved Cleary.
“All the teams around us, everyone is scrapping and trying to get points, we are no different in that respect. We put ourselves into a bit of a battle, but thankfully we came out fighting and got the job done.
“When we analysed the Roscommon game, and there was a lot of doom and gloom about it, the scoreline didn't justify the way we played. We realised we weren't a terribly bad team and if we could brush up on a couple of things, which we did, we had a chance coming in here.”
A couple of quick contrasts to highlight how poles apart those home outings were.
Cork’s conversion was 25% from play against Roscommon. Yesterday, it was 71%. Just five wides in total, and one of those, belonging to Chris Óg Jones, looked a certain white flag.
They won nine of Roscommon’s 24 restarts a fortnight ago. Yesterday, they had nine opposition restarts stolen by half-time. And when they gobbled up Niall McDonnell’s opening three kick-outs of the second half, their win rate on the Louth kick-out was 67%.
Colm O’Callaghan was chief fetcher. He claimed three in the opening half alone. As for the three early in the second-half, he found himself at the end of two of those plays, rather than the beginning, to deliver 1-1 and shove an 11-point interval advantage out to 15. 1-18 to 0-6.
Rory and Ian Maguire were two more commandeering kick-outs and continuing forward to apply finishing touches.
“We were delighted with that,” Cleary said of devouring the Louth restart.
“We decided to push up on them, which all teams are doing now, and that was the platform, particularly in respect of how we got off to such a good start and got a big lead by half-time.
“In the second half, we managed the game better than other times when we have been ahead. In Down, we were 10 up and didn't get the job done. Today, we were more patient.”
Louth, decimated by injuries and featuring only seven of the team that began last June’s preliminary quarter-final win over Cork, refused to help themselves not only with their kick-out.
First-half breaches of the four-back tweak and dissent allowed Mark Cronin convert a pair of two-point frees. Brian O’Driscoll also landed a pair of first-half orange flags. Cork nine clear and the half-hour mark not yet reached.
Louth, who offered so little in attack outside of the Sam Mulroy kicking exhibition and his four two-pointers from play, managed just three scores between the 16th and 55th minute. Eight was as close as they came in the final quarter. Sitting one place above the drop, theirs is a must-win against Meath.
For Cork, reasons for optimism have resurfaced. Chris Óg Jones rediscovered his form of earlier rounds. Brian Hurley started his first game of 2025. Cathail O’Mahony, off the bench, won a converted free and contributed a pair. Newcomer corner-backs Neil Lordan and, in particular, Seán Brady were assertive and aggressive.
“We were all down and out after Roscommon. In this League, you have to get back on the horse pretty quickly. Learn from the mistakes and look forward, that is what we did.”
Their not-yet-in-the-clear status demands the same approach for the spin to Cavan.
: M Cronin (0-8, 2 tp frees, 0-1 free, 0-1 mark); B O’Driscoll (0-4, 2 tp); C O’Callaghan (1-1); C Óg Jones (0-3); R Maguire, C O’Mahony (0-2 each); M Taylor, B Hurley (free), I Maguire (0-1 each).
: S Mulroy (0-11, 4 tp, 1 tp free, 0-1 free); C Downey (tp), A McDonnell (0-2 each); D McKeown, C Brannigan, S Reynolds (0-
1 each).
MA Martin; N Lordan, D O’Mahony, S Brady; M Taylor, R Maguire, B O’Driscoll; I Maguire, C O’Callaghan; P Walsh, E McSweeney, S McDonnell; M Cronin, B Hurley, C Óg Jones.
: S Walsh for O’Callaghan (temporary, 1-4 mins); R Deane for McDonnell (43); C O’Mahony for Hurley (53); C Cahalane for McSweeney (58); S Walsh for I Maguire (65, inj), H O’Connor for Cronin (65).
: N McDonnell; D McKenny, D Campbell, D Nally; L Gray, P Lynch, C McKeever; T Durnin, P Matthews; D McDonnell, S Mulroy, A McDonnell; T Jackson, S Reynolds, R Burns.
C Downey for Reynolds, E Carolan for Gray (both HT); D McKeown for Jackson (42); F Malone for D McDonnell (45); C Brannigan for Burns (64).
: T Murphy (Galway).
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