Year away from Cork setup and new rules have 'reignited' Steven Sherlock

Having recently confirmed to the Irish Examiner his rejoining of the Cork panel for the 2026 campaign, he has opened up on why he stepped away for the inter-county season just gone.

Wed, 01 Oct, 2025 - 07:00

Eoghan Cormican

Returning Cork footballer Steven Sherlock has been “reignited” by his year of exclusive focus on the club scene.

Sherlock, who stepped away from John Cleary’s panel following the conclusion of the 2024 inter-county season, says the combination of the year out from Cork and the introduction of new rule changes has both revived him in the short-term and will stand to him in the long run.

The St Finbarr’s captain is the top-scorer in this year’s Cork Premier Senior championship, his current total sitting at 5-27.

That tally includes the two penalties he stuck in last Sunday’s quarter-final dethroning of back-to-back champions Castlehaven.

He’s also raised five orange flags across their four-game run to the semis, one of which was an outside-of-the-right-boot sideline kick in the final round group win over Carrigaline.

Having recently confirmed to the Irish Examiner his rejoining of the Cork panel for the 2026 campaign, he yesterday opened up on why he stepped away for the inter-county season just gone.

“It was just a decision I wanted to take last year. Inter-county is full-on commitment and if you are not 100% in it, there is no point doing it. If you are anyway below that, you are leaving the players and management down,” said the 28-year-old.

“I took the decision to step away, and I have really enjoyed the club this year, playing with the lads from the very beginning of the year, playing all the league games, which you normally wouldn't. Really enjoyable.

“Taking the year out and the new rule changes coming all at once has reignited me. Can't wait to go training with the club, and I am looking forward to playing with the county. It has just reignited me.

“The year out definitely helped and is something I don't regret. It is something that has definitely benefited me for the long run.”

Steven Sherlock will be available to Cork management for selection next year. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

Sherlock’s 4-26 tally by the same juncture of last year’s county championship demonstrates how his scoring exploits in blue are quite similar between the old game and new. His on-field existence, though, is unrecognisable from 12 months ago.

“Everything about the new rules are brilliant. The game is more enjoyable as a whole. More enjoyable to watch, more enjoyable to train, more enjoyable to play. Even from a game point of view, when we were six ahead against Castlehaven the last day, it doesn't even feel like a big lead anymore. It is just brilliant, very enjoyable.

“When you're a forward, you grow up wanting to be a shooter, an attacker, to try and win the ball and take on your man, all that kind of stuff. That has all now come back into the game.

“If you have a fast break or turn the ball over, there is plenty of space there. But I even like the side of the game where there are set plays to work different opportunities and stuff like that. There is obviously more space than there used to be because you attack with 11, rather than 15 on 15 which wasn't enjoyable.”

The potential for chaos within the three-up rule when turnover ball is moved instantly was reinforced during Sunday’s Cork quarter-final, the Barrs harvesting four green flags from such an approach.

“We got a lot of joy from breaking fast on Sunday,” Sherlock continued. “We have big powerful men around the middle. That was really evident that when we broke the line we looked very dangerous.

"That is obviously something we have been working on and very happy it came to fruition on Sunday.”