Barry Coffey: Cork footballers must find consistency next year

Former Cork footballer Barry Coffey believes the Rebels have the ability to push on and make an impression in 2026.

The Leesiders will be fancied to be in the promotion mix in the Allianz Division 2 Football League, but whether that transpires remains to be seen in what is a very competitive division.

It’s 2012 since Cork last won the Munster title. With how the draw has fallen, they will be favourites to reach the provincial final where they would face more than likely Kerry in Killarney.

Coffey, a winner of two All-Ireland medals during a successful senior career with the Rebels, has been an interested spectator over the last few years watching his old teammate John Cleary patrolling the sidelines. The Castlehaven clubman has been in charge of Cork since the summer of 2022 and agreed a fresh two-year term back in August.

“Cork have had their challenges over the last few years and I suppose the disappointing thing for me is that Cork on the big day can raise their game and they seem to be able to beat teams that are theoretically better than them,” the Bishopstown native says.

“Then they seem to leave themselves down in other games, particularly in the league, where they should be winning more games.

“I think if Cork can get that little bit of bite in them and just make sure that they're winning all their home fixtures next year, that will be a big advantage because they will always get a result away from home.” 

Cork will face Cavan in their Division 2 opener at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh in January. Some of the away games include very long trips to Derry and Tyrone.

“John Cleary in fairness has put in a huge effort and put an awful lot of time into this team over the last few years," Coffey said.

“So all I can do is wish him well. Promotion will be a top target, but it’s important not to put too much pressure on them either.

“I’m not sure there’s too many players in the county that haven’t been tried out. I think Cork have thrown the net fairly wide in terms of the player pool that they’ve looked at.

“It's to get the best out of what they have is the challenge.” 

Cork have given Kerry a run for their money in recent years under Cleary’s tutelage, can the Rebels beat them sooner rather than later?

“History will show even in recent times that Kerry still find Cork a challenge.

“So yeah, absolutely, there’s nothing like a Kerry-Cork fixture in Killarney, there’s no doubt about it. Cork have many challenges before then, but it should provide motivation for them that they could be playing in Killarney next year.” 

Coffey feels the new rules have brought a different dimension to the game.

“The new rules have been a breath of fresh air, I have to say.

“I mean, the transformation since Jim Gavin and his rules committee came in has been wonderful. The new rules have been fantastic. The game had nearly died, in my own view. It had turned into a boring spectacle.

“The changes have been brilliant, very positive. I suppose what I like is the freedom that the forwards are getting compared to the whole thing just being totally congested in the old game. The fact that a David Clifford can now blossom in the game and can’t be totally man-marked out of the game, that's a breath of fresh air.”