Pearse O'Neill: Cork are in good shape going into new season

Former Cork footballer Pearse O’Neill can’t stress enough the importance of the Rebels achieving promotion from the Allianz Division 2 Football League this year.

The Leesiders start their season on Sunday against Cavan at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh with throw-in at 1.30pm.

Cork haven’t played in Division 1 since being relegated in 2016.

“The last couple of years, Cork have been trying to make that breakthrough, but I think there’s a lot of young players coming through and I think the team is in good shape going into the new season,” the Aghada clubman says, who won an All-Ireland medal in 2010.

“We have started very slowly in the league in recent years, but if we can get a good start this time, it would be massive and then try and achieve promotion, which would be huge to get back to Division 1.

“It is important to be playing in Division 1 because you’re playing the top teams week in, week out, which is huge and especially how close the league is to championship now.

“The league finishes and the championship is a couple of weeks later. Before, the league would finish and then the start of the championship would be a month later, whereas now they’re nearly joined up.” 

A lot of talk is surrounding this Cavan match and the importance of Cork starting with a win especially with how tough the end of the league looks with long trips to Derry and Tyrone, the two favourites for promotion.

“I don’t know if the public are overhyping this Cavan game, but I suppose it’s like anything, Cork haven’t played a game in about seven months, so it’s the first competitive game, so people are talking about it,” O’Neill said.

“But it is important because at home, you want to be winning your home games.

“If they could win this game against Cavan, get a bit of momentum, I think the team would be in a good state heading into the second round away to Louth.

“There’s huge potential there in that Cork panel and if we start with a win in the league, I think that’ll be a good starting point.” 

O’Neill does feel that the Rebels are turning a corner after what has been a challenging period ever since 2013 you could say since Conor Counihan stepped down as boss.

“Every team goes through a transition. I think the structures are there with regards to Cork football. I suppose it’s always tough when your next-door neighbour is very, very strong as well, like in Kerry. I do think the future is bright for Cork football in general. There are a lot of positive things happening.

“With regards the senior team, there’s some fine players there, even Colm O’Callaghan, he’s after establishing himself as one of the best midfielders in the country, he’s really, really after stepping up. Chris Óg Jones is a fine forward, Steven Sherlock is back. I rate Daniel O’Mahony as a defender. There’s a strong spine there.”