Cork’s John Cleary Responds to Munster Council’s Seeding Changes

Cork manager John Cleary expressed frustration over the Munster Council’s recent decision to revert to the previous seeding system for the upcoming provincial championship. This change arrives just days before the quarter-final draw, set to take place at Croke Park on Thursday evening at 19:00, which will be streamed on GAA social channels. Cork, alongside Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford, will be included in the draw, but the new seeding decision has caused disruption to their strategic planning.

Initially, the Munster Council had decided in July to reward the top two finishers from the 2025 National League, specifically Cork and Kerry, with byes to separate semi-finals. However, the council opted to delay this implementation by a year. As a result, last season’s Munster finalists, Clare and Kerry, will be seeded in the semi-finals, which does not guarantee they will avoid each other in the competition.

Cleary acknowledged that this abrupt shift has impacted Cork’s preparations. “We were planning for a semi-final, which we were told was the way it was going to go, and then we’re not now,” he stated. He emphasized that Cork had not actively sought these changes; rather, they accepted the previous decision, only to find it altered shortly thereafter.

The new ruling places additional pressure on Cork to perform well in the Division 2 league next season. The team aims not only to qualify for the prestigious Sam Maguire Cup but also to avert relegation. Achieving this would secure them a Munster semi-final spot in 2027, preventing teams from Division 3, such as Clare and Limerick, from overtaking them.

Cleary reassured fans that the team remains focused. “It’s not something that we’re overly concerned about now,” he said. “Basically, we’re getting ready to do the best we can in the league and see where it takes us from there.” He noted that the upcoming season offers a slight advantage with an extra week between the league and the Munster championship, allowing for better preparation.

As Cork gears up for a challenging schedule, including matches against Louth, Offaly, Derry, and Tyrone, Cleary expressed some disappointment with the fixture organization. “Whoever’s organising the fixtures definitely didn’t do us any favours,” he remarked. With three lengthy away trips, he noted that the schedule could have been more accommodating.

Despite these challenges, Cleary views the return of the McGrath Cup positively. Cork will face Tipperary away on January 6 and Limerick at home on January 11. “Last year we were scrambling around, trying to get challenge matches,” he explained. “With the McGrath Cup, it’s organised and provides a chance to give games to players on the fringes.”

In other provincial competitions, the senior football championships are also undergoing seeding adjustments. In Connacht, Mayo will travel to London, while Roscommon heads to New York for quarter-final matches on April 11 and 12, respectively. In Leinster, last season’s semi-finalists, including Dublin, Kildare, and champions Louth, will receive quarter-final byes, while Ulster has two preliminary matchups involving Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, and Tyrone.

As the championship season approaches, teams across the provinces are adjusting to the new landscape, and Cork will be looking to navigate these changes effectively.