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Irish Examiner
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
John Cleary rues Cork losing midfield battle to Meath
Cork manager John Cleary rued losing the midfield battle and giving up too many turnovers as his side began their All-Ireland series with a defeat in Navan. If losing possession was the problem towards the end of the first half, not winning enough of it in the kick-out battles in the second was the reason for the defeat. 'They got the grips around the middle definitely,' admitted Cleary, 'And I think that was ultimately why they won the game, really. 'We had a lot of that possession in the first half and possession was key out there. Scores were at a premium, the weather turned terrible but once you had possession, you were denying the other team a chance to get a score.' In the first half, Cork had led by three against the elements but finished the half three behind. 'We had too many turnovers, and we were completely on top, and that was a strong wind there, and probably turnovers killed us,' said the Castlehaven man. 'Then they went down and got a goal and a couple of points before half-time. 'In the second half, we came back and levelled it but they bossed the game there from there mostly to the end. I think for the last 20 minutes, was it five points to one or something, we only scored a point after we levelled it.' For fear of breaching the three-up rule, Cork's joint topscorer Chris Óg Jones checked himself and pulled out of a tackle in the lead-up to Jordan Morris's goal for Meath. 'I don't think anyone told him,' Cleary recalled. 'He maybe was afraid he'd give a two-pointer or whatever and I think we had three up besides him. But that was at halfway, like, they broke very quickly, and, look, in fairness, it was a good finish by them and a good goal.' Mattie Taylor failed to finish the game with an injury and the current unavailable list include Brian Hurley, Conor Corbett, Tommy Walsh and Seán Walsh, whose presence in midfield was sorely missed in Páirc Tailteann. Cleary couldn't say if those who didn't tog out will be fit for Kerry at home next Saturday. 'We'll know now during the week. They weren't fit today now, so we'll just take it week by week.'
Irish Examiner
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Hurley misses out through injury as Cleary makes three Cork changes for Meath clash
Cork football boss John Cleary has made three changes to his side for the All-Ireland SFC Group 2 opener against Meath in Navan on Saturday (throw-in, 3pm). Captain Brian Hurley misses out through injury with Cathail O'Mahony drafted in to start at full-forward. Despite the blow of Hurley's absence, O'Mahony has enjoyed a run of fitness of late that has allowed the Michelstown marksman to build up his form, culminating in his inclusion in Cleary's starting 15 alongside Chris Óg Jones and Mark Cronin in the full-forward line. Cork's Brian Hurley breaks away from a Louth defender. Pic: David Creedon Michéal Aodh Martin starts between the sticks, while the other two changes come in the full-back line. Seán Brady - suspended following his controversial red card in the extra-time loss to Kerry in the Munster semi-final - and Tommy Walsh - suffering with a heel issue - miss out. Their replacements come in the form of experienced duo Seán Meehan and Maurice Shanley, who join mainstay Daniel O'Mahony. The Páirc Tailteann clash will mark Kiskeam defender Meehan's maiden start of the season. Brian O'Driscoll, Rory Maguire and Matty Taylor are once again named in the half-back line, with fit-again Luke Fahy among the subs. The midfield pair of St Finbarr's Ian Maguire and Éire Óg's Colm O'Callaghan slot in once more in the 8 and 9 berths. Having put down an impressive maiden campaign thus far, Mallow's Seán O'Donnell keeps his place at half-forward, where he is accompanied by Paul Walsh and Seán Powter. There is a first competitive matchday squad appearance for newcomer Éanna O'Hanlon, who linked up with the panel this season, while Conor Corbett is forced to sit this one out as he continues to work his way back to match fitness following his recovery from an ACL tear last summer. Cork: M A Martin (Nemo Rangers); S Meehan (Kiskeam), D O'Mahony (Knocknagree), M Shanley (Clonakilty); B O'Driscoll (Carrigaline), R Maguire (Castlehaven), M Taylor (Mallow); I Maguire (St Finbarr's), C O'Callaghan (Éire Óg); P Walsh (Kanturk), S Powter (Douglas), S McDonnell (Mallow); M Cronin (Nemo Rangers), C O'Mahony (Mitchelstown), C Óg Jones (Iveleary). Subs: P Doyle (Knocknagree), B Murphy (Nemo Rangers), N Lordan (Ballinora), D Cashman (Millstreet), L Fahy (Ballincollig), S Walsh (Mitchelstown), C Cahalane (Castlehaven), E McSweeney (Knocknagree), R Deane (Bantry Blues), É O'Hanlon (Kilshannig), H O'Connor (Newmarket).
Irish Independent
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Cork boss John Cleary pleased with ‘block of work done' in second pre-season period
'We've been happy the way the last three or four weeks went,' the Castlehaven man said John Cleary hopes a 'second pre-season' over the past five weeks will stand to Cork as they embark on their All-Ireland Series campaign. The Rebels have recorded some major group-stage scalps in the past two seasons, taking down Mayo and Donegal. But just as significant were their hard-earned first-round victories over Louth and Clare, both won by two points, to ease the pressure and build that momentum.
Irish Times
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Meath forward Mathew Costello out to prove shock win over Dublin was no flash in the pan
After falling short of the summit in Leinster, the Meath footballers have now set themselves a new challenge to climb out of their All-Ireland round-robin group. The Royals lost all three games in the group stage of the Sam Maguire competition last summer, finishing bottom of the table and failing to progress to the knock-out stages after defeats to Louth, Kerry and Monaghan. However, this has been a season of progress so far for Meath. Forward Mathew Costello believes Robbie Brennan's side can put the disappointment of defeat to Louth in the Leinster final behind them and launch an assault on the All-Ireland series . 'First and foremost, [the aspiration now] is to get out of the group and try get ourselves to an All-Ireland quarter-final,' says Costello. READ MORE 'Obviously last year we had a pretty poor campaign in the All-Ireland, so basically it's to do better than we did last year and get ourselves out of the group.' Meath begin their round-robin campaign at home to Cork in Navan on Saturday. John Cleary's Rebels will arrive at Páirc Tailteann on the back of a hugely encouraging display against Kerry in Munster. 'I'm expecting a seriously tough contest, to be honest,' continues Costello. 'Everybody knew they were a fantastic team but Cork really showed against Kerry they have a serious skill-set. 'They're a team that are also probably on the road together now the last few years. They've experienced big days, maybe more than us, so we're expecting a big battle in Navan.' Meath's Mathew Costello battles for possession with Kieran McArdle of Louth during the Leinster SFC final. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho Beyond Saturday's first-round clash, Meath will then face a trip to Roscommon before finishing off their group with a neutral venue fixture against Kerry. Meath, Cork and Roscommon were all in Division Two of the National Football League this season while Kerry finished second in Division One. Meath lost to Cork but beat Roscommon. 'It's funny, obviously a lot of the teams are in the same division in the league and we all feel we can beat each other on any given day. I think it leads to really competitive matches and that's what we're expecting over the next few weeks,' adds Costello. Meath's standout performance this season was their Leinster semi-final win over Dublin, a victory that was some 15 years in the making. There was a lot of hard training and tough nights to build us up for performances like that — Mathew Costello It ended Dublin's dominance in the province and opened up the Delaney Cup for the first time in well over a decade. 'Yeah, it was very significant but it was going to come at some stage,' says the versatile forward of that victory over the Dubs. 'And over the last four or five years that's kind of what you've been trying to tell yourself ahead of those games – that some day we're going to get a really good performance and we're going to put it up to them. 'I think it was probably one of the best games I've been a part of, I'm sure the fans loved it. I think it was brilliant that the game was brought down to Portlaoise and we were able to build a bit of an atmosphere. And from that, hopefully we can keep Leinster a very competitive provincial series now. Mathew Costello takes on Dublin's John Small during the Leinster SFC semi-final, a victory Costello insists was not a one-off. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho 'It does give confidence but really where the confidence comes from is the amount of work we did in the off-season, pre-season and throughout the National League. 'There was a lot of hard training and tough nights to build us up for performances like that. The Dublin game wasn't just an overnight success or a one-off. We know we've plenty of big performances to come and hopefully we can bring that to the Cork game.' [ Hurling Man shifts uneasily as football gets mysteriously entertaining Opens in new window ] [ Ciarán Murphy: Dublin's leaders prove an old lion is still a lion - and Limerick are roaring now too Opens in new window ] The defeat to Louth in the provincial final knocked some of the gloss off that win over Dublin, but Costello is taking a more global view on the Leinster decider setback. The Dunshaughlin clubman believes the experience will ultimately stand to the Meath players. 'I think it's only a positive,' he said. 'The lead-up to the game and then the actual occasion itself, like the parade and everything, was just something I'd never experienced before. 'We know full well, for the future, that's 100 per cent going to help us having gone through that. If we can ever get back to those heights, back to Croke Park, we know what it's like now. It just gives you the buzz and gives you a bit more motivation to go back and do it again. I think Louth's experience probably did shine through in the last five minutes; they held the ball really well. 'Obviously the result just didn't go our way. It just wasn't our day – it was Louth's day. They were full value for their win, so I just have to congratulate them and we move on.' Given the array of young talent in the county, there has been a mood of optimism around Meath in recent times. Costello says potential cannot be talked about endlessly – at some stage it has to be about delivering on that promise. 'The aim, basically, is to do better than you did last year,' he says. 'We are young, but you can't be young forever. We've got to be putting in performances and hopefully that will lead to results.'
The Irish Sun
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Cork boss John Cleary slams red card decision as Sean Brady appeal fails ahead of Meath clash
CORK boss John Cleary has expressed his disappointment after Seán Brady failed to have his red card from the Munster SFC semi-final defeat to Kerry overturned. The Ballygarvan defender will subsequently miss this weekend's All-Ireland group clash with 2 Sean Brady of Cork was shown a red card during their Munster SFC clash vs Kerry 2 Cork manager John Cleary says the Rebels have 'exhausted all avenues' trying to get the ban overturned Playing in just his second senior Championship match, he was dismissed in extra-time against With Cleary branding the decision 'very harsh' in the immediate aftermath, Brady took his case to the Central Hearings Committee. However, the decision was upheld. READ MORE ON GAA 'Anyone I spoke to all over the country couldn't understand why there was a sending-off and yet when he appealed it, they doubled down on it. It was disappointing.' Brady's absence is not the only defensive blow that Cork are dealing with ahead of Saturday's trip to Navan. Kevin Donovan remains sidelined with an ankle injury, while the gaffer also admitted that Tommy Walsh is 'doubtful' for the Group 2 opener over a heel issue. Cleary added: 'What Seán was sent off for was behaving in a manner dangerous to an opponent. Most read in GAA Football "If they're going to bring that into the GAA, every time a fella goes for a ball or a 50-50 ball there's an element of danger there. 'Look, it's disappointing but we exhausted the avenues on it and we have to put it behind us. Limerick GAA fans troll RTE pundit Donal Og Cusack after win over Cork "It's disappointing for Seán himself. As much as anything else now he loses out this weekend. 'But there's nothing we can do about it now.'
