Cork U20 footballers eye Munster final spot as Ray Keane praises character and calls for support

Cork U20 football manager Ray Keane says his side are exactly where they hoped to be when the season began — heading into the decisive final group game with their fate firmly in their own hands.

The Rebels welcome Waterford to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh this evening (7pm) in a Dalata Hotel Group Munster U20 Football Championship Phase 2 Round 3 clash that will determine who advances to the provincial final.

Cork sit on three points at the top of the group, but with all four teams still capable of qualifying, the margins remain tight. Kerry welcome Clare to Tralee in the other fixture.

“When we had them at the start of the year, the aim was to have the destiny in our own hands,” Keane says.

“It’s great to be getting to the last group game, but ultimately we want to win, we want to keep progressing, and we want to see where it takes us.

“Our job was to try and get into the last game with a chance to get to a Munster final. That’s exactly where we are. It was always going to come down to the last group game. That’s the first aim.” 

Cork’s one-point win over Kerry last week — their first victory over the Kingdom at this grade since 2021 — has put them in pole position, but Keane is quick to stress that nothing has been achieved yet.

“I just asked a simple question to the players 'What have we won?' And we’ve won nothing yet,” the Éire Óg clubman said.

“We need to go out and perform first and foremost, and hopefully give ourselves a chance to do it all over again the week after.

“Let’s keep steady now, keep working, and see what happens. No one is getting carried away here.” 

While many observers will view Cork as strong favourites on home soil, Keane is having none of it.

“I keep saying this — any team that goes to Clare at any level and gets a result, it tells you an awful lot about their character,” he states.

“Waterford will be coming down here and I can guarantee you there’ll be nothing spared by them.

“Momentum is great. Waterford are after five competitive games. We were travelling up and down the country for challenge games and they’re fantastic, you need them, but it’s very hard to gauge until you test the mettle and see how far a man can actually go for you on the pitch.

“This will be our third competitive game. This will be very tough, make no mistake about it.

“In football today, regardless of whether you’re Cork, Donegal, Derry, Kerry, Dublin — it’s irrelevant. There’s very little between teams at the top level. It’s small, small margins.” 

Cork’s performances across the two games to date have shown steady improvement, something Keane attributes to the increasing volume of competitive action.

“I thought we’d a lot more rhythm against Kerry. I said to you in Quilty after the draw with Clare that I didn’t think we had enough rhythm in our play, and I think that probably comes from competitive games. A lot of the lads walked out of Quilty no different to myself — disappointed in the performance.

“I’m not trying to be Mystic Meg or anything, but that could be a valuable point. The Waterford game will be another battle and we’ll try and do everything we can.” 

With a Munster final place on the line, Keane issued a clear message to supporters ahead of this evening’s showdown.

“The message is simple — support the lads. 

“Supporters and fans will back you as long as you’re giving everything to it. And when you’re losing, if you’re giving everything, supporters and fans and board members and club members can make a connection with a team. And if you can make a connection with a team, anything is possible.

“It’s a big game. We’d love people to come out, get behind the boys, and give them a boost. These lads are giving everything for Cork football. The more support they feel, the more they’ll give back.”