Cork midfielder Colm O’Callaghan says 2020 hurt means no room for complacency against Tipperary 

Cork midfielder Colm O’Callaghan believes the county’s return to Division 1 has given the group reason to push into the championship with confidence.

At the same time, he is equally clear that the Rebels must improve in Saturday’s Munster SFC semi-final against Tipperary at FBD Semple Stadium (2pm).

Cork arrive in Thurles with momentum after a comfortable win over Limerick in the quarter-final, but O’Callaghan says the second-half drop-off in that game has already been addressed.

For him, the league campaign — promotion secured, a final reached albeit lost narrowly to Meath, and a series of strong performances in Páirc Uí Rinn — has set a platform for Cork to push on.

“It was very exciting,” the Éire Óg player says of promotion to Division 1.

“We started off the league in a way we hadn’t in previous years. Everyone had a bit of a chip on their shoulder, but we wanted a good start. Derry away, Tyrone away — they were massive challenges. You either win or you learn, and we took huge learnings from the Derry game.” 

Cork’s response was to that 20-point hammering was to beat Kildare and then turn over Tyrone in Omagh, a result that sealed promotion last month. 

But for O’Callaghan, the real buzz was when the Rebels played two games at Páirc Uí Rinn. They won both too, against Meath and Kildare.

“The two games in Páirc Uí Rinn showed what Cork football means to people — the support, the push we got,” O’Callaghan said.

“I absolutely love Páirc Uí Rinn. The crowd is right on top of you. It’s intimidating for teams coming down. It gives us a real boost.

“That Donegal game in Páirc Uí Rinn two years ago was also one of the better days. They came down practically unbeatable, Jim McGuinness back, and we beat them. We had a chip on our shoulder that day too.” 

There haven’t been too many blots in the copybook this year for John Cleary’s charges — the Derry defeat and the league final loss to Meath among them. Standards have been raised internally, though, as they are determined to learn.

“We were very disappointed after the league final. We definitely felt we left it behind us. We only lost by two points in the end. Meath are a very good footballing side, but the game was there for the taking.

“The goal at the start of the year was promotion, and we got that. Now we’ve real reason for next year — Division 1. You have to play all the top teams. The intensity goes up another notch.

“There are always banana skins in Division 2, but we’ve learned so much. It’s incredibly competitive. But we’re ready for the next step.” 

If promotion was the high point, the second half against Limerick last time out in the Munster quarter-final was the warning sign.

Cork led comfortably at the break — 15 points, in fact, after playing into the wind, but their standards dipped.

Their lead was down to eight points at one stage after half-time. The Leesiders have only won one second half so far this year.

“Look, the second half against Limerick didn’t please the players and it definitely didn’t please the management,” O’Callaghan states.

“We’ve had unbelievable first halves — Kildare, Offaly to name a couple, but we’ve let teams back into it.

“It wasn’t good enough from us in the second half. It’s great it’s early in the year — we can take the learnings and bring them into Thurles.

“It has to be addressed — and it was, straight after the game to be fair. It had to be. It’s early days in the championship, so hopefully we’ll iron it out.” 

Tipperary may be coming off a tight win over Waterford, but O’Callaghan is adamant that Cork will not underestimate them. The memory of the 2020 Munster final defeat still lingers.

“It feels like yesterday. That was one of the hardest defeats I’ve had in a Cork jersey. You will have that in the back of your mind going to Thurles. You’re not taking anything for granted. You’re going hell for leather.

“Tipperary have serious footballers. With the two-pointers, you could be six or seven points up and they can get a few outside the arc and suddenly they’re right back in it.

“We have to be alive to what they bring. We will respect them.” 

O’Callaghan was honoured with the latest 96FM/C103 Sports Award last week, held in association with co-sponsors the Rochestown Park Hotel, following his standout role in Cork’s Division 2 promotion.