What is with Cork football and why are we so mediocre?

The last time Cork’s footballers won their opening two league games was in 2020, back when they were a Division 3 team.

After defeat to Down on Sunday, that run will continue for at least another year. If we’re being honest, it will probably go on longer than that.

This isn’t an overreaction to one league defeat either.

This is where you’re allowed to make mistakes, granted they don’t resurface during the summer months.

But for Cork football, I’m repeating myself. Constantly.

This is cyclical, and the issues run much deeper than any one player, coach or performance on the field.

The result in Newry did nothing but remind us that Cork football hasn't improved.

FIVE YEAR PLAN

“Cork will be regular All-Ireland contenders in all grades of inter-county football, including club championships, within three to five years.” 

That’s a direct statement from #2024 – A Five-Year Plan for Cork Football. A plan to help take Cork football back to where it should be, released in 2019, with the aim to have achieved that in 2024.

It’s safe to say that objective has not been achieved.

For Cork’s minor and U20 footballers, both secured All-Ireland glory in 2019 with wins over Galway and Dublin respectively.

Minimal progress.

But that’s where it ends. The intermittent Munster Club SFC wins each for Nemo Rangers, St Finbarr’s and Castlehaven are positive. Cill na Martra’s Intermediate and Kilmurry’s Junior titles at provincial level were good to see.

But have Cork become All-Ireland contenders at senior level? Do they look like competing for an All-Ireland title any time in the next year or two?

Again, that’s not a dig at the current crop of players. Or the management team. The effort is there on that end, and that you can respect.

But Cork football has gone stale.

Its condition has slowly deteriorated over the years. So too has the interest from fans. 

It’s an afterthought for many, and that’s a shame.

I remember being in second class of primary school during the build-up to the 2010 All-Ireland final. We each made a tin foil Sam Maguire trophy with the red and white ribbons for Cork, red and black for Down.

How far both counties have fallen since then.

Hopefully the new rules can bring a few more fans into the Páirc.

There are certainly people who felt the issue was football itself, rather than the current Cork crop. There are also many examples where the latter is the prime issue, and you can’t blame the fans for that either.

People go to games to be entertained. The consistent mediocrity that plagues Cork will hardly encourage fans to go to games.

Football had to change. It did.

Cork football needed to improve. It hasn’t.

THREE-YEAR TERM 

John Cleary has had two full seasons in charge of the team, plus the half year in 2022. This is his third full season, the last year in a three-year term.

Can I honestly say that the team has improved during that timeframe? I don’t think so.

Any belief that Cork football had improved was quickly shut down before this season began.

Eight players departed Cleary’s team before the start of the season. Only three of those were retirements.

Damien Gore and Fionn Herlihy left, Kevin Flahive went travelling. But there were two that stood out.

Jack Cahalane opting to join the hurlers and Steven Sherlock walking away from the setup.

CONCERN 

Those two leaving the setup is what raised an eyebrow. Neither of those two leaving and the way that they did is a good look. Particularly for Sherlock.

Take one look at his performances for St Finbarr’s and you’ll understand why. 

PSFC top scorer in 2024, 2023, 2021 and 2020.

His intercounty track record isn’t perfect and not entirely reflective of his club form – but he’s done more than enough to be a starter for Cleary’s team.

Sherlock is one of the best forwards in Cork.

You may not agree with that, but you can’t argue that Cork are not a weaker team without him.

His departure isn’t a good look, but the way he’s been treated isn’t either. For that reason, I’ll be surprised to see Cleary stay on for 2026.

I could end up eating my words. Cork could win five in a row and get back to Division 1 and I’d love nothing more than to see that.

Somehow, I don’t see this situation improving anytime soon.