'Public need to get behind the Cork footballers this year'

Fionán Murray has urged the public to get behind the Cork footballers with the new season just around the corner.

The Rebels open their Allianz Division 2 League campaign in two weeks' time on Sunday, January 25 with a home game against Cavan at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

They are currently in the middle of their McGrath Cup season. They beat Tipperary last Tuesday and a win over Limerick tomorrow at Páirc Uí Rinn would send the Rebels into the final of the pre-season competition.  

It’s 2016 since the last time Cork played in Division 1 of the league. Murray, who won two Munster medals during his senior football career with Cork, is hoping the team are turning a corner under John Cleary.

“First of all, we don't have that many All-Ireland football successes, it’s 2010 since the last one,” he says.

“That's a long, long time for Cork football, especially with the size of the county and the talent that is here.

“Also, Cork are in Division 2 and it’s vital that they get back up to Division 1. It’s a handicap playing in Division 2. It's going to be hard to get promoted but look, the potential is there. Everyone has a cut off Cork football.

“The structures are being put in place now and I think especially with the new rules, it’ll only add to the footballers and John Cleary’s way of playing.

“Let’s be fair, football years ago, say in the mid-noughties when the northern teams were going well, it was more of an athletic game. Obviously, it still is an athletic game but it was more hanging on to the ball, not much risk taking, let’s get bodies back, let’s defend in numbers and break in numbers.

“Whereas now, the skilled players are getting more rewarded. You have your two-pointers. It’s a totally different game. I think with Steven Sherlock back and a second year under the new rules, Cork can really kick on.

“I think the public need to get behind the footballers this year. Yes, you need something to get behind as well.

“You hear all this, this guy is good enough to play with Cork and that guy is. If they were good enough to play with Cork, John Cleary would get guys in that are good enough.

“It's fine doing it with your club, but there is a big, big step up playing inter-county against Kerry or Galway or whoever.” 

Cork have fallen at the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final stage in the last two seasons, losing to Louth in 2024 and Dublin last year.

“There's an enormous amount of talent in Cork,” Murray said.

“In fact, none more so than last season. The lad from Newcestown, David Buckley, good player, strong player.

“A couple of guys playing with Castlehaven, a number of players with Clonakilty. Let’s be fair, John Cleary is looking at these guys and look, if everything can click well for Cork, I think going forward we could hopefully make the All-Ireland quarter-final stage on a regular basis and see what happens.” 

The main priority though right now from a Cork point of view will be a promotion push in Division 2 of the league. They finished fifth last year in what was an up and down campaign. They know that they have to be much more consistent this year.

“Look, Cork have to hit the ground running. Once you get out of Division 2 and into Division 1, that gives you huge confidence, playing top teams and so on.

“It’s all about luck too. Hopefully Cork can get a bit of a run and hang on to the success that the hurlers have had in the last couple of years. 

“It would be nice for the footballers to taste a little bit of that. Promotion in the league would be a huge step forward.”