John Cleary: 'We have put ourselves in the promotion mix'

Cork manager John Cleary can't shy away from it anymore, he knows his side are in with a great shout of promotion. 

The Rebels have won their first four games in the Allianz Division 2 Football League and are in with a brilliant opportunity of returning to Division 1 for the first time since 2016.

The Rebels face the lengthy trip up to Derry this weekend to face the Ulster outfit at Find Insurance Celtic Park on Sunday with throw-in at 1pm.

It’s a quick turnaround from the tough battle with Meath at a packed Páirc Uí Rinn last Sunday.

“Every team is in the same boat, we knew when the draw was made that this was going to be our programme,” Cleary says.

“We're in the mix now and we'll just have to assess the bodies and head up to Derry.

“I said it last week, we knew that our probably easier games were front-loaded in this league and as it came to the end, it was going to get tougher. But at least having victories under your belt, you can go into the tougher games with that confidence of getting victories so I think that is helping us.

“But look, two trips to the north and Kildare at home in the middle of those games, it's tough but if we're good enough to get into Division 1, we will. We've put ourselves in the promotion mix now and we'll just see where it goes in the next couple of weeks.” 

The Cork boss knows exactly what his side are facing on Sunday. After losing their first game, Derry have put three victories together and are just two points behind Cork.

“We will go up there to see if we can get another two points.

“Derry are the team on form in Division 2 at the minute. We are looking forward to it. We have put ourselves in a position where we might have put ourselves in the promotion hunt. That’s all we are trying to do at the moment.

“We are delighted to have won our first four games. Two years ago we lost our first three and were in relegation trouble. At least that’s out of the way now.

“We will give it an almighty belt for the next few weeks to see if we can get near that promotion line.” 

One player who has really caught the eye this season is young forward Dara Sheedy. This is his debut campaign with Cork at senior level and has brought something different to the team this year.

“Dara was a young player that we had eyes on and we just brought him in when we started back for this season,” Cleary said.

“We weren't sure whether it was just for experience but the way he has come in and put up his hand, we couldn't but pick him. The Offaly game was his first 70-minute game at senior level and in the second half, he just tired a bit but look, he's definitely a player for the future.

“As I said, great, great lad to work with as well, puts down his head, and we're delighted to have him.”