Cork footballers to meet Cavan in league opener next year

Cork’s Allianz Division 2 Football League campaign for 2026 is set to be a home match.

The draft fixture list has been circulated to the county boards in recent days with an official list set to be released in the coming weeks.

The Rebels are due to begin with a game at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh with Cavan the visitors on the weekend of January 24.

Cork will have four away games next year out of the seven outings with some long trips on the cards.

John Cleary’s charges face Derry away from home.

Derry’s main home ground is Celtic Park, but the last time they entertained Cork, which was three years ago, they played the match at Owenbeg, five and a half hours from SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The Leesiders' other away games will be against Tyrone, Louth and Offaly.

After the opener down the Páirc against Cavan, Kildare and Meath will also be coming down to Leeside.

Ideally, Cleary and co would have liked either Derry or Tyrone at home. Facing both away will be challenging and could well be decisive games in their aspirations when it comes to the league.

Cork can officially return to pre-season training from Friday, November 21.

They will be aware that a fast start is crucial to any hopes of a promotion push. The Rebels have been away from Division 1 since being demoted in 2016.

They finished fifth this year having come fourth in 2023 and ’24.

A strong start will be key next year. Cork did pick up four points from their first three games this year, but the one-point loss away to Down second day out ultimately proved the difference in them not getting promoted.

Despite ending up in fifth, it was a congested table and as it turned out, had they won against the Mourne men, they would have been elevated.