John Cleary: 'The lads we threw in had to stand up, and that's what they did'

Cork manager John Cleary is pleased with his sides league campaign. Picture: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

Reports of Cork senior footballers’s demise have proven to be premature for another league campaign and if John Cleary is honest he was reasonably happy with it.

To end Division 2 with a couple of wins and the high of this grinding performance in Cavan offers positives but the manager felt there were reasons for optimism prior to their rallying finish.

“I thought we were very unlucky against Down,” said Cleary of the February game in Newry which Cork led by 10 points. 

“Against Monaghan and Roscommon, things went wrong for us and we missed too many scores and Monaghan plundered three goals against us in the first half. We did think we played reasonably well against those teams but they were just a bit too cute for us and a bit too sharp and they took their scores and we didn’t.

“Overall, there was no game I thought when we completely out of it or outplayed even though the scoreline against Roscommon said we were. When we looked at it after, the stats said something completely different. Overall, I’d be pleased with the league campaign particularly with the way we finished when our backs were to the wall after losing three league games.” 

This win in Cavan will rank as their best for when it mattered they showed character. “Today it could nearly have come back to haunt us, the scores we missed towards the end which would have put us out of sight and we didn’t get them and that put us under pressure.

Barry Donnelly of Cavan in action against Daniel O'Mahony of Cork during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match. Picture: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

“Then around the middle we were trying to run down the clock and it nearly backfired on us but overall you have to be very pleased. There was great heart and great blockdowns and great interceptions.

“With 20 minutes to go, we were only three or four points ahead facing into that gale. We have to be happy with the great attitude shown there by the lads and the way they fought and with the wind and the crowd behind Cavan they had the momentum but I couldn’t be prouder of the lads. I thought they stood out.

“Very often we’ve been on the other side of this and a last minute score has beaten us and we’re going down the road very disappointed. The game against Down this year and there were several games over the last few years so we’re very happy to come out of a battle like this, definitely.” 

Cleary credited his young corner-backs for leading the way in this latest victory. “I said before that Neil Lordan and Seán Brady were thrown in. We have six backs who would have been togging out today but they’re at home because they’re injured.

“We had to throw in guys and in fairness they had to stand up and that’s what they did. They’re great lads. It was maybe a bit rocky for them at the beginning but we had to stick with them and today they proved their worth.” 

Cleary hopes to have “four or five players back” for the Munster quarter-final against Limerick on Saturday week but added: “They don’t have anything played. We have no time, we have to focus on Limerick. We’ll enjoy this evening but tomorrow we’re totally zoned in on Limerick so even the guys coming back we’re wondering will they have enough mileage in the legs but we’ll assess that during the week.”