Ian Maguire on Cavan win: We showed heart and desire, leaders all over the pitch 

Another tireless performance from Ian Maguire helped Cork over the line against Cavan in the final Allianz Division 2 Football League game of 2025 at Kingspan Breffni on Sunday afternoon.

The Rebels prevailed on a scoreline of 0-21 to 0-19, made more impressive given Down and Louth also won. Had the Leesiders lost, it would have come down to scoring difference to decide relegation. There was huge relief from everyone on the Cork football panel and management team after the game.

Maguire worked well with his midfield partner Colm O’Callaghan. The St Finbarr’s man chipped in with a point, but it was his primary job in the middle of the park and work rate that was so impressive.

“We have a mixture of emotions,” Maguire said post-match on Sunday.

“There were a lot of permutations coming into the game, but our main focus was just to come up here, play well and win. I think we ticked two of those boxes. Our application, our effort, it was the best of us out there and it’s a big propeller going into the championship.

“It had been a tough few weeks obviously. We had a tough loss against Roscommon, but we rallied and finished the league now with two wins. We are delighted with that. We have gone back to what works well for us.

“We played some really good football in the first half today. One of the big talking points ahead of the league was the third quarter push and we really exploded after half-time with a scoring burst. We then kept enough of a distance from Cavan. Lots to work on though.” 

Maguire has credited the panel for the strong finish to the league. The Rebels have ended up in fifth position with eight points. Cork's highest points tally in the top two tiers since 2015.

“We have leaders all over the pitch,” the towering midfielder says.

“Colm O’Callaghan alongside me in midfield, he’s monumental. We are trying to build a panel for the championship. We are ultimately disappointed that we aren’t in Division 1 for next year. We will park this now and prepare for Limerick on Saturday week in the Munster quarter-final.

“We have finished the league with two wins, loads of players discovered, Seán Walsh for example. He made two huge fetches when he came on today. Seán Brady has been a real find and Neil Lordan. That’s what it’s all about. It’s exciting going into the championship.

“Your heart, desire and putting your head on the chopping block, as John Cleary would say, has to be your foundation. There were huge examples of those things out there today.”