Cork manager John Cleary: 'We've backed ourselves into a corner'

Cork manager John Cleary admits his side have been backed into a corner after their one-point loss at home to Cavan on Saturday.

After an encouraging 2023 championship showing, highlighted by wins over Mayo and Roscommon, Cork were touted in some quarters as promotion hopefuls in 2024.

However, following defeats to Donegal, Louth and now Cavan, they sit bottom of the Division 2 table and are stuck in a scrap for survival heading into the final four rounds.

Even more concerningly, they are plonked on the same side of the Munster SFC draw as Kerry, meaning that a high-ish league placing is required to ensure their participation in the Sam Maguire this summer.

"This is a very competitive division. We knew it before we started," Cleary told RTÉ Sport after the loss to Cavan.

"Well beaten in Donegal. Close enough in Louth, on another day we might have got something out of it.

"Today, the same. On another day, we could have went home with at least a draw - didn't.

"Now, we've probably backed ourselves into a corner. But look, what can we do only go again next week. Tough trip up to Fermanagh but we'll dust ourselves down, get ready during the week and go up there all guns blazing next week."

Cork appeared to be in a strong position at half-time, leading 0-11 to 0-08, with Chris Óg Jones contributing three from play.

However, they had spurned a couple of clear goal chances, and then wilted badly in the second half, failing to register a score from play across the entire period, which incorporated eight minutes of injury-time.

Luke Fahy's 48th minute sending off - a yellow card following his first-half black card - left them further in a hole in a third quarter where they were outscored 0-07 to 0-01.

"We're very disappointed. We came down