John Cleary on Cork's loss to Down: 'That was a game we could and should have won'

Cork manager John Cleary had a very frustrated look on his face after he saw his side lose out to Down in Páirc Esler in Newry on Sunday afternoon.

The Rebels were looking good to achieve two wins from the first two games, but a second half malfunction combined with an improved Down display, saw them head back down south with no points after a 1-19 to 2-15 loss in the Allianz Division 2 football league.

That really doesn’t tell half the story, Cork led by 10 points after 32 minutes, and were up five points 16 minutes into the second period. They did play some brilliant football at times, which will make this loss tough to swallow.

“Frustrated and disappointed,” the Castlehaven clubman said post-match.

“I thought it was a game we could and should have won. Happy with the performance, but not with the result. These new rules, when teams get momentum, it’s very hard to stop it. 

I did feel a few big decisions went against us especially just before Down’s goal.

“The least we deserved out of it was a draw anyway. We had a kick to win it at the end, but we are going down the road with nothing, which is very frustrating and disappointing especially with the display we put in for long periods.

“We were comfortable at half-time, but it was the period after the break that brought Down back into the game. It was going to be a battle then and it was going to turn on luck and who could scrape over the line. Down got over the line.” 

ADAPTING

Cork were looking for back-to-back wins to open their league campaign after the victory over Meath, but it wasn’t to be. The momentum has been stalled. This result could prove costly.

“We just have to dust ourselves down and go again,” Cleary says.

“We are turning up and adapting to the new rules the best we can. We are making a huge fist on a lot of things. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the two points today. We have to learn from it and go again.

“We always say the league will settle down after three or four games and you will know the way things are going after that. Down put in a decent performance against Roscommon and just fell a bit short. We knew coming up to their home ground today that they were going to be formidable.

“Finally, maybe something I might not be in favour of going forward is the 12 v 11. 

I think it’s slowing the game because everybody is waiting for the goalie to come up. 

"We will reserve judgement until a couple of more games are played in this league.”