Plenty of positives to take from cork from this year, chief amongst them going two big games against two of the major contenders and not conceding a goal or even much of a sniff of one.
A very honourable effort from where we were around St Patricks Day.
There’s a nucleus there to build from and in spite of what the cheerleaders would have you believe there is no great team in football today. You look at crowds like Dublin, Kerry, Mayo, Donegal, Tyrone as being a bit ahead and that’s the truth of the matter but look if the truth be told those counties would be doing well to keep it kicked out to their own best teams of the last 10-15 years. Part of the problem we have in both codes is winning is simply not important enough in Cork. If it was it might dawn on people that we’re not far away, and arguably at a push closer than we are on the other side of the aisle at the moment.
Cork need a bit of certainty at the helm, the likes of Corbett, O’Donovan and Meehan to stay healthy, Keane to commit and they’ll go far next year. It’s a pity that one of the promotion spots next year is nailed on for Dublin but 4 or 5 wins in the league shouldn’t be an unrealistic target.
Sincere thanks to players and backroom.