Cork manager John Cleary: 'We'll take the win but a lot to work on ahead of Meath'

Cork manager John Cleary was satisfied after his side picked up another win in the Allianz Division 2 Football League.

The Rebels defeated Offaly at Glenisk O’Connor Park in Tullamore on Sunday afternoon as Cleary’s charges made it three victories from the first three outings.

Cork won on a scoreline of 3-15 to 0-19 to make their best start in the league excluding Division 3 since 2014.

The away team did the hard work in the first half as they led by nine points at the break.

The Cork boss though wasn’t overly pleased with his side’s display in the second 35 minutes.

“We played very well in the first half, but in the second half we were sloppy, so there’s a lot to work on going forward,” he said post-match.

“I’m happy with the first half, I’m not so happy with the second half, but we’ll take the two points and move on to next week.

“We needed all of our scores in the end despite being in a very good position at half-time. Offaly are a running team and it probably suited them better playing against the wind and that’s the way it happened. 

"They got breaks around the middle, which we were getting in the first half, and they ran at us and they troubled us.

“We wouldn’t be happy at all with the second half, but we knew there was going to be that kick in Offaly.

“If you look at Kerry and Galway last night, games can change very, very quickly and, you know, 10, 12 points one time was game over but it’s not anymore and we knew that. We were lucky that Offaly didn’t get a couple of goals.

“I wouldn’t say we were holding on towards the end, that wouldn’t be the right word, but we just had enough to see us over the line."

Cork are back at the summit of Division 2 after being knocked off it on Saturday night after Meath’s dramatic win over Louth.

The Rebels entertain Robbie Brennan’s charges in a mouthwatering fixture next Sunday at Páirc Uí Rinn. Both sides with six points from their first three games.

Cleary isn’t getting carried away.

“We’d be happy enough with our three wins but look, call a spade a spade, we’ve probably met the teams down at the lower end of the table,” he says.

“We knew that when the draw was made that, you know, we had to really get off to a good start because what’s coming now is a step up again.

“We got out of jail a little bit the first day against Cavan but, you know, two fine victories over Louth and now Offaly. We’d have to be happy with that but four big ones now to come.

“We’ll need those six points going forward but look, we’re looking forward now to Meath next Sunday. They had a tough game as well last night and, you know, first half performance, we’d be okay against them, second half display, it wouldn’t be good enough, so a lot to work on during the week.” 

There were four changes to the team that was named on Friday night with Tommy Walsh, Brian O’Driscoll, Seán Walsh and Brian Hurley all dropping out. There's nothing serious with regards long-term injuries. 

“Brian O’Driscoll and Brian Hurley picked up knocks. Brian O’Driscoll the last day against Louth and Brian Hurley during the week. Tommy Walsh has had a big workload. We just rested him because he had played all our games and played all the Sigerson Cup games and he has an injury history from last year.”