John Cleary: Cork had a lot of regrets this year

Cork had the opportunity to go direct to the last eight of the championship as one of the four group winners. There is regret over the opportunity not taken and where it might have brought them.

In the most open football championship in years, Cork could have been part of the conversation. They were, for a brief moment. And then they weren’t. Regrets.

“A lot of teams, including ourselves, had a lot of regrets this year. We were in pole position and we didn't take the opportunity that was there,” Cleary began.

“Likewise, I think Kerry were in a very good position, Galway were, Donegal were, and it was Armagh who went and took it in the end. From our point of view, definitely we would have a lot of regrets in that there was an opportunity there, the door was open, and we didn't take it.”

The initial opportunity was created by inflicting a first defeat of the year on Donegal. It moved Cork to the top of their All-Ireland series group. Draw or beat Tyrone next day out and Cork would avoid the other group winners at the quarter-final juncture.

“We felt that the Tyrone match came down to a minute or two when we missed a goal. We had four-on-three going in and instead of getting a goal or a score, we turned it over and got a black card. Basically, that game should have been even-steven going down the stretch and it wasn't.

“And then against Louth, we missed about 2-6 in the second half. We only scored 1-8, which we know isn't good enough. But we did feel that we definitely left that game behind us. The opportunity was there, we didn't take the scores, and it was a disappointing end to the campaign.”

The same Donegal team Cork turned over at Páirc Uí Rinn went as far as the All-Ireland semi-final. The Armagh team they drew with in the League went all the way. Cleary is adamant that Cork have the potential to be semi-finalists and finalists going forward, as Donegal and Armagh were in 2024.

“Definitely. This year, for example, against Kerry, Armagh, and Donegal, we were there or thereabouts. Drew with Armagh, kick of a ball against Kerry, and beat Donegal for what was their first defeat all year.

“We didn't become a bad team overnight or two weeks later, so that tells me definitely the potential is there, the players are there. It is just in those big moments we fell short when it really mattered in championship.”

Jim O’Donoghue of the Barrs is the new face in the management set-up for next season, with Cleary insistent that coach Kevin Walsh didn’t need any convincing to continue making the journey south from Galway.

“Kevin is a practical guy, so I suppose he wanted to see where we were at. Once we gave it a bit of time and reflected on the whole season rather than the one Louth match, we came to a consensus that we were happy enough to go again and so was he.

"I don't think there was any reluctance. Maybe we just wanted to let things settle and then see where we go again after a week or two.”