Colman Corrigan: Cork footballers must kick on next year

Former Cork footballer Colman Corrigan believes the Rebels are making progress but need to make that next step in 2026.

The Leesiders are in pre-season training with the new campaign just around the corner.

Cork will be targeting a promotion push in the Allianz Division 2 Football League and potentially a Munster final spot against Kerry.

Corrigan, who won five Munster titles and two All-Ireland medals during a glittering Cork senior football career, is upbeat.

“Cork certainly made progress this year,” the Macroom native says.

“All the indicators against Kerry in the Munster semi-final, who were the eventual All-Ireland winners, showed that on their day Cork are good enough to take on any team.

“I suppose from a disappointing point of view, they didn't get promoted out of Division 2. The target is to get out of that, which I think personally is a must next year. It’s a realistic target.

“You’ve got to compete with the bigger teams that are up in Division 1. It’ll give you a better idea of who you need in your team come championship time and see where you are as a team.” 

Cork brought through a number of players last season that went on to make their debuts. They really shone too most notably Neil Lordan, Seán Brady, Seán Walsh and Seán McDonnell.

Losing Lordan next year with the Ballinora player going travelling is a blow, something that Corrigan agrees with.

“I’ve watched a lot of club games this year and there’s a lot of good players out there,” he said.

“Cork found a few this year and someone who really impressed me was Neil Lordan. He’s going travelling next year, like all young people do, but I mean, the jury was out for me with him at the start of this year.

“I hadn’t seen enough of him, but I saw enough of him this year. I think he’s a superb player.

“His reading of the game, his coolness on the ball, his vision, his passing, everything that’s needed in a footballer.

“In my opinion, he would have made a superb centre-back next year.” 

Corrigan feels Cork have the squad to make a decent impression in 2026.

“I would be hoping that we would have the squad to challenge. The competition at club level has been excellent in recent years from top to bottom. The likes of St Finbarr’s and Knocknagree were fantastic this year.

“We have to get enough players in from those clubs and surely we will. Let’s get the required results in the league and then we will look at the championship.” 

Corrigan is pleased that his former teammate John Cleary is remaining at the helm. The Castlehaven native has been in charge since the summer of 2022 and agreed a fresh two-year term with the Cork County Board back in August.

“John has been fantastic in what he has done for Cork football. In his playing career, he was a brilliant footballer. He managed at U21 level that is now U20 and is now managing at senior level.

“It’s great to have that continuity. There’s a little bit of pressure on John to deliver next year. But again, Cork have to set a realistic target of getting out of Division 2, getting up to Division 1. We can look at the future after that.”