John Cleary: Cork 'a bit discommoded' by Munster Council's seeding decision

Cork manager John Cleary. Pic: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Cork manager John Cleary says they were “a bit discommoded” by the Munster Council’s decision to revert to the existing seeding system.

Along with Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford, Cork are in the hat for the quarter-finals of next year’s provincial championship when the draw takes place in Croke Park on Thursday evening (7pm start, streaming on GAA social channels).

That’s a change from what they were working off from the Munster Council’s vote at the end of July to reward the province’s top two 2025 National League finishers – in this year’s case, Cork and Kerry – with byes to separate semi-finals.

However, the council earlier this month elected to delay the implementation of that seeding by a year and so Clare and Kerry as this past season’s Munster finalists will be seeded in the semi-finals, although they will not be guaranteed to avoid each other.

Cleary acknowledged the postponement affected Cork’s strategy “in that we were planning for a semi-final, which we were told was the way it was going to go, and then we're not now".

“Look, it wasn't something that we had pushed for as a group. We just had no act or part in looking for or changing anything, and when it came along, we said ‘Grand’. Then, two months later it changed, so we were a bit discommoded in that respect.” 

The decision means Cork have double the reason to perform strongly in Division 2 next season. As previously, they will want to finish as high as possible to qualify for the Sam Maguire Cup.

At the same time, avoiding relegation will ensure them a Munster semi-final berth in 2027 as Division 3 outfits Clare and Limerick wouldn’t then leapfrog them.

“It’s not something that we're overly concerned about now,” insists Cleary. “Basically, we're getting ready to do the best we can in the league and see where it takes us from there and 2027 will take care of itself.

“At least next year there is an extra week between the league and the Munster championship. If you were to qualify directly for a semi-final, it gives you a month between them and you can prepare better. That’s where I think the advantage is.” 

With trips to Louth, Offaly, Derry and Tyrone next spring, Cleary accepts Cork’s Division 2 challenges are obvious and believes the schedule could have fallen kinder for them. 

“Whoever’s organising the fixtures definitely didn't do us any favours. We had Meath at home last year as we do again, and if we'd been away this time around, it would have been in Croke Park (Páirc Tailteann is undergoing reconstruction).

“We have three particularly long journeys. We were a bit surprised really with the way it panned out but look, that's not for changing now. We've just got to get on with it, and we're not going to be putting that up as an excuse. We had four at home last year, four away this year and we have to forget about it now.” 

Cleary welcomes the return of the McGrath Cup with clashes against Tipperary (away) and Limerick (home) on January 6 and 11 respectively. 

“Last year we were scampering around, trying to get challenge matches and at least with the McGrath Cup, it's organised and maybe a chance to give games to fellas on the fringes.

“It's not very easy to do that when you're in the league because in our situation the pressure is on all the time. If you lose the first couple of matches, you're looking down. If you win the first two or three matches, you're looking up.” 

The other three provinces’ senior football championships are also fully or partly seeded. In Connacht, Mayo head to London and Roscommon travel to New York for quarter-finals on April 11 and 12 respectively. Two of Galway, Leitrim and Sligo will face off in the other first round fixture.

As is the norm, this past season’s semi-finalists in Leinster – Dublin, Kildare, champions Louth and Meath – receive quarter-final byes. 

In Ulster, two of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone will clash in the preliminary round. Cavan, Derry, Donegal and Monaghan are in the quarter-final pot having played in the preliminary round the past two seasons.