'Plenty to work on': John Cleary not happy with Rebels’ drop-off despite comfortable win

Cork advanced to the Munster SFC semi-final with a 4-16 to 1-16 victory over Limerick at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday afternoon — a scoreline that suggests a comfortable outing, even if the performance told a more complex story.

Manager John Cleary struck a measured tone afterwards, acknowledging the positives of a ruthless first-half display while expressing clear frustration at how his side allowed their standards to dip after the break.

The Rebels were irresistible early on, repeatedly carving Limerick open and finishing with a clinical edge that effectively settled the contest before half-time. 

Cork led by 15 points at the interval, their four goals the product of sharp movement, quick hands and composed execution.

The second half, however, was a different affair. Cork lost control of possession, momentum and structure — a pattern Cleary admitted post-match that has surfaced too often this season.

“I’m happy with the first half and happy with the result — but not happy with the second half, simple as that,” he said.

“Our attitude in the first half was spot on. We were running hard, getting hands on ball, and we were clinical.

“In the second half we just couldn’t get our hands on the ball. Being down to 14 men for 20 minutes didn’t help either, but there’s still plenty to work on.” 

Cleary praised the quality of Cork’s first-half goals but said the drop-off afterwards was too stark to ignore.

“We worked the ball in well and finished our chances,” he says.

“The first half was extremely positive, especially the way we finished our goals. But the second half was the opposite really. We had a couple of goal chances and didn’t take them.

“We spoke at half-time about being here before. Maybe we switched off and thought the game was won. Fellas might have been strolling around. I can’t put my finger on it right now, but we’ll address it.

“Sometimes it’s great to get lessons when you win. We’re disappointed and we won by nine. If the halves were reversed, we’d be cock-a-hoop leaving here. But we’ll have to address it during the week.” 

Cork’s numerical disadvantage — Brian O’Driscoll receiving a black card that turned out to be mistaken identity
before later picking up a yellow that resulted in a red — compounded their difficulties. Cleary said momentum is everything in the modern game.

“It isn’t the first time this has happened,” he said of the drop-off. 

“It’s not fitness — there are days we finish very well. But in the modern game, if you lose momentum it’s very hard to get it back. And being down to 14 for 20 minutes is a big punishment. We suffered for it today.

“The last couple of times it happened, we addressed it and got a positive response. That’s what we’ll be looking for again.” 

Cleary confirmed that Dara Sheedy was withdrawn after a heavy first-half knock.

“Yeah, he’s alright. He just got winded. He had a very good first half, pulling the strings. But he had a game Thursday night and another next Thursday with the U20s, so the plan was to rest him if we could.” 

Cork now move on to a semi-final meeting with Tipperary on Saturday week in Thurles, fully aware that a repeat of their second-half fade will be punished more severely as the championship goes on.