Cork v Mayo: Rebels' belief is key, says Eoin Cadogan

A greater sense of belief has been key to the progress made this year by the Cork football team, Eoin Cadogan feels.

The Douglas man was part of the last Cork side to win the Sam Maguire Cup, back in 2010, and the Rebels’ semi-final appearance two years later has not been matched in the time since then.

John Cleary’s side will have the chance to right that wrong when they take on Mayo in Saturday’s quarter-final at Croke Park (4pm) and, when asked to highlight the areas of major improvement, Cadogan pinpointed a couple of factors.

“I think there's a bigger squad there,” he said.

“Athletically, they've built over the last couple of years.

“Obviously, Kevin Murray has come in the backroom team this year and added a huge amount of energy, then you've obviously the experience of Kevin Walsh, John Cleary is in his fifth year now and he'd have a great understanding of what his best 15 is.

“I think belief is the big word, really. Nobody really expected Cork to get over the line in Ballybofey, that's just being honest.

“To put on a performance like they did, give themselves an extra week now and draw Mayo in an All-Ireland quarter-final, they should be humming going in to Croke Park. They definitely have the athleticism and the skill level to perform up there.

“I think both Mayo and Cork are actually very similar in terms of how sometimes it tends to be absolute chaotic in their play.

“I think there's going to be huge shootout between both of them and you'd expect goals as well. I think [Steven] Sherlock's in tip-top form, so is Ryan O'Donoghue inside in the inside line for Mayo.

“I think that it’s going to make for a cracker.”

Cadogan, speaking in his role as a Boyle Sports GAA ambassador, is of the view that a rising tide is lifting all boats in Cork football, especially with the minor team having secured a place in the All-Ireland final.

While reluctant to look back at 2010 too much, he can see some similarities.

“That's 16 years ago, so there's been a lot changed since then,” he said.

“I hate even looking back on those things, but the one thing I would say is that I suppose the longer that you're playing together and training together, the more of a tight-knit, family-orientated feeling there is to it and we had that in abundance in 2010.

“John Cleary has built on that playing group that he has. Tommy Walsh at 6 has been an incredible leader and they're building their squad.

“Similarly, with the minors, you see them in an All-Ireland Final with Keith Ricken – so there is a little bit of a buzz about football again, and it was much needed because for long periods it had been quite negative and a question of access to where we were going.”