'Disappointed' Robert Downey says Cork will be driven by 2026 near-misses

Robert Downey says Cork’s 2026 season will be defined by disappointment, hard lessons, and a determination to put things right when the group reconvenes later in the year for pre-season.

The Glen Rovers defender reflected on a campaign that promised much but ultimately delivered frustration, with Cork losing the Division 1A League final, the Munster final, and the All-Ireland semi-final to Galway.

For Downey, the feeling is simple, reaching finals is one thing, winning them is what matters.

“It was disappointing,” he said to The Echo on Tuesday afternoon.

“At the start of the year, you set out your stall to get to finals and win them. Unfortunately that wasn’t the way it ended up.

“After the club season, we will be looking forward to getting going again. It won’t be long before we return for pre-season. Naturally enough, you would be disappointed with how the season went for us.” 

Cork’s year was disrupted at times by injuries, but Downey is quick to point out that such challenges are part of life in sport.

“There probably was a couple of injuries throughout the year, but that’s the same with every team,” he says.

“You know yourself with how tough the Munster championship is when you’re playing week-on-week.

“It’s grand getting to the finals, but as a player, you want to win them. We are disappointed to have come up short, but we will be doing our best to right the wrongs next year.” 

The 2-26 to 1-18 All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Galway was the final blow in a season of near misses. Cork had hoped to produce their best performance of the year at Croke Park, but Galway’s balance and sharpness proved decisive.

“Galway played very, very well,” Downey states.

“We have watched it back, it’s hard to know exactly what went wrong. Galway are a fabulous team, young players.

“You saw in the All-Ireland final how well they played. Galway are a very balanced team. We’re just disappointed not to have come out on the right side, but full credit to Galway.” 

Downey also reflected on Ben O’Connor’s first season in charge, praising the former All-Ireland winner’s honesty, clarity, and influence on the group.

“Ben is brilliant, what you see is what you get really. In his interviews, he’s very straight. As a player, that’s all you can really ask for — a bit of honesty. When we were growing up, Ben was a fella we all looked up to, himself and his brother Jerry.

“When Ben came into the dressing room first to meet us, it was obviously very exciting.

“He didn’t change too much from what was going on in the previous years. A few tweaks here and there. He just wants Cork to win — hurling and football — and that rubs off on the players.”

- Robert Downey of Glen Rovers and Cork was at the launch of the 2026 Club Championship with Clubber. Clubber is covering live championship matches for 15 county boards this season, with over 2,000 live matches set to be streamed this year. To find out more, and to get your Clubber subscription, visit clubber.ie.