Darragh Cashman hoping to kick on with Cork senior footballers after successful underage career 

Cork senior footballer Darragh Cashman believes the team are on the right track.

The Millstreet player is confident the group can make an impression in the 2026 season.

The Rebels will officially return to pre-season training later this month as John Cleary’s charges look to keep building on the steady improvements made in recent campaigns.

The Leesiders did finish fifth in the Allianz Division 2 league this year, lost to Kerry in the Munster semi-final and got knocked out at the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final stage for a second year on the trot.

“In terms of the season as a whole, we made progress again, but losing to Dublin was disappointing,” the Millstreet player says.

"We felt confident that we would win that game so it was a disappointing end to the year. It’s a hugely driven group with serious talent and discipline. The standards we’ve set are high, and we went to Croke Park with a game plan, believing we could turn Dublin over.

“That’s why we were disappointed afterwards, because we know the level that we’re capable of. It’s about taking the lessons from it and driving on again next year.”

Cork’s early season aim and it certainly hasn’t been a secret in recent years has been to get promoted from the Allianz Division 2 league. 2026 will be no different.

“Division 2 is so competitive, some long trips up north can be difficult, but again, it’s a game of football at the end of the day,” Cashman said.

“So hopefully next year now we’ll hit the ground running. Maybe the last few years we have been slow starters in the first few games. It’s so important to hit the ground running early on.

"Promotion to Division 1 is our clear aim. We’re a driven group with high standards and massive competition for places. We believe we can achieve what we’ve set out to do. We’re looking forward to a big pre-season and hitting the ground running.”

Cashman is heading into his third campaign on the Cork senior football panel. He’s still young at 23 years of age, but hasn’t nailed down a starting berth yet. Injuries and other factors have hampered him. He's excited by the return of the McGrath Cup in January.

"This will be the first time since I joined the Cork senior panel that I won’t have the Sigerson Cup.

“I had the honour of captaining UL earlier this year. The Sigerson Cup is an unbelievable competition. It was some of the most enjoyable and competitive football I’ve played. 

"I can see why there’s a lot to balance between the Sigerson Cup and McGrath Cup and everything in between and if you’re in final year studies, it can be hard to juggle everything at times.

“I can fully focus on a strong pre-season with Cork and also the McGrath Cup.”

Cashman was a successful underage player with Cork, winning an All-Ireland medal with the minors in 2019 before landing a Munster medal two years later with the U20s.

“I was only 16 at the time when we won the minor All-Ireland in Croke Park, unbelievable memories. Thinking back on it, we had an unbelievable group. It was such a close-knit panel.

“We lost to Kerry in the Munster final, but we got better as the year went on. And to end the year with the All-Ireland, it's what dreams are made of at that age.

“Winning the Munster U20 championship in 2021 was special. Underage success is what gives us hunger to want to go on and be successful higher up.

“I want to go on and achieve that success with the Cork seniors. I want to experience days like that again. I definitely think it’s possible. I know how good we are as a group.”