John Cleary: ‘No complacency’ as Cork brace for Tipperary test

Cork manager John Cleary says there is “absolutely no complacency” in his camp as the Rebels prepare to face Tipperary in tomorrow’s Munster SFC semi-final at FBD Semple Stadium (2pm).

The memory of the 2020 Munster final defeat still lingers in Cork football circles, and while Cleary is adamant that this is a different team in a different era, he made it clear that his side will have to perform and be on guard. 

Cork come into the game after a mixed quarter-final performance against Limerick, a match they won in the first half, but another second 35 minutes where they didn't perform.

“We looked at it straight away,” Cleary said of the problems in the Limerick game.

“We worked on the mistakes and so on, we reviewed it, and like any game, you figure things out in your own way. As with every other game, we addressed the issues and we’ve been working on them.

“People have been talking about the second-half performances, but if you flip it, it’s a different story, because we’ve been very good in the first halves this year. Maybe a lot of that is playing with the wind in certain games, but matches take on a life of their own.” 

Still, Cleary knows that momentum swings can be decisive in championship football, and he pointed to the modern game’s new rules as a factor that can make it difficult for teams to regain control once they lose it.

“The modern game has changed a bit,” the Castlehaven clubman said.

“If you can’t get around teams and you’re facing them up, especially with two or three players sitting behind, it can be very difficult to get out.

“Everyone is trying to work on that — trying to find a way out when you’re under pressure. You need accuracy from the back, and you need midfielders or big men in the middle to win those contests. It becomes a bit of a lottery at times.” 

Cork’s ability to manage those key moments will be tested by a Tipperary side who, despite being in a rebuilding phase and having had mixed league results, have shown enough quality to trouble anyone on their day.

“Tipperary have a young, vibrant team,” Cleary states.

“They’ve promoted a good few lads from the U20s, and they’ve had players involved in the colleges, particularly UL in the Sigerson Cup.

"They had mixed results in the league, probably down a few players with injuries, but on their day they can be very formidable. That’s what we’re preparing for.

“There’ll be absolutely no complacency from our point of view. Every day you go out, you have to give the opposition the utmost respect. If we didn’t work hard in our game against Limerick the last day, we know we could have been in bother. We’ll treat this game no differently, because on their day Tipperary are very formidable.” 

The last championship meeting between the sides — the 2020 Munster final — ended in a famous Tipp victory, a result that still stings for many on Leeside.

“The last time Tipperary played Cork in the championship was the Munster final six years ago and they won down in Cork. We’re certainly preparing for a big battle on Saturday. If it comes down to that, that’s what we’re ready for.

“We’re looking forward to getting out there on the pitch in Thurles. It’s a fabulous stadium, a fabulous pitch. It’s a big, wide, expansive pitch, and hopefully we can perform on the day. That’s our aim at the moment."