John Cleary: Our season was on the line but the intensity improved

THE relief on the face of Cork senior football manager John Cleary after his side’s much-needed victory over Fermanagh yesterday afternoon at Joseph’s Park in Ederney told the story. 

Zero points after three games coming into the match, the Rebels knew exactly what was required and they delivered in the end, winning on a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-16. The Leesiders were heading for defeat as the match ticked into injury time, as Fermanagh led 0-14 to 0-13, but a goal from sub Maurice Shanley proved a huge score.

Cork still have a lot to work on going forward, but getting the win was all that mattered at the weekend.

“It’s a massive win,” says Cleary.

“Fermanagh played excellently well, they moved us around, and we were just clung to the ground for some reason. 

The message at half-time was clear, either get going, or else we are heading back down the road with the same result as the previous three games.

"In fairness, it was tit-for-tat, but it looked like it was going away from us again. But, I did feel we were getting in for goal chances, we had three or four opportunities before we actually scored the goal. Maybe it was a good time to pounce with only minutes left on the clock.

“Our season was on the line at the break, but the intensity was much better in the second half. With 10 minutes to go, when lads were really flagging, we just kept going and thankfully we got our reward in the end. We are delighted with the win because the performance wasn’t the best. We will take the victory and move on, you know.” 

It’s such an important win for many reasons, and crucially it gets Cork up and running after what was a difficult start to the campaign for everyone involved in the set-up.

“I was absolutely delighted when seven minutes of injury time went up,” the Rebels boss says.

“I was having a joke with the fourth official could he bring that down to five minutes when the goal went in. Fermanagh did have chances there at the end, but we just hung on by the skin of our teeth. 

As I said, we will take it, because I felt against Louth and Cavan that we didn’t have that bit of luck. 

"We had it today, so if you keep at it and keep trying, you will get your luck in the end. It swings in roundabouts."

Despite the poor start to the season, there was no panic from anyone in the camp. But a first win will give the group a lift with Kildare next up on Sunday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 3.30pm.

“We decided at the start of the year that no matter what happens, we take it from week to week and game to game,” Cleary said.

“Tonight now we will enjoy going back down the road, but tomorrow morning the focus will switch to the next game. We will probably have to win our remaining three games to be assured of staying up or whatever.”