Fionn Herlihy steps away from Cork football panel

Fionn Herlihy is the latest player to depart the Cork senior football squad, The Echo understands.

The Dohenys star is now the eight player to leave John Cleary's panel since the end of last season, which is a significant number even though three of those were retirements in John O'Rourke, Killian O'Hanlon and Thomas Clancy with Steven Sherlock, Damien Gore and now Herlihy opting out for 2025. Jack Cahalane is gone to the Cork hurlers and Kevin Flahive is travelling. 

This latest departure is another blow for Cleary. It’s also another young forward to leave the squad. It’s understood that Herlihy didn’t return for pre-season training as he weighed up his options.  

Having impressed at underage level for the Rebels, Herlihy made his senior debut under then boss Keith Ricken in 2022 when he was introduced from the substitutes bench against Clare in the second Allianz Division 2 football league fixture. 

The West Cork native chipped in with two points, both from play, while he was on the pitch for just over 22 minutes.

He has struggled for game time on a regular basis over the last couple of years. Before that, Herlihy had a fantastic 2019 after playing a key role for the Cork U20 footballers as they won Munster and All-Ireland titles, which included a goal in the provincial decider from the sharpshooter that went a long way to defeating old rivals Kerry.

He can now focus fully on Dohenys’ efforts to claim the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC this year. They lost the final to Newcestown in 2023 before falling at the semi-final hurdle last season and will be one of the fancied sides once again when the championship gets underway at the end of July. The Dunmanway-based outfit will take on Bishopstown, Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh and O’Donovan Rossa in their championship group.

While there are plenty of new faces after being drafted into the Cork panel, it will take time for some of them to make the step up.

Cork face Meath on Saturday week in the opening Allianz Division 2 football league game of the new season at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh with throw-in at 5pm.

Despite it being the first match, it’s a huge one for the Rebels if they want to be in the promotion shake up this season. The Leesiders haven't won an opening league game since 2020 and that was when they were in Division 3. Cleary's charges have finished fourth in the standings in the last two league campaigns. 

Cork have played challenge games in recent weeks in preparation for the new season including a victory over Dublin at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh just over a week ago. They were due to play Mayo last Saturday in Limerick but it was called off due to tragic events in Mayo.