JOHN Cleary insists it was a ‘no-brainer’ to move Cork’s crunch Division 2 football league clash to Páirc Uí Rinn.
The Cork management called for a change of venue for Saturday evening’s must-win meeting with Kildare (5pm), with Páirc Uí Rinn favoured over Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Battling with Derry and Meath in a three-way shoot-out for promotion from Division 2, the Rebels want to make the most of their home advantage.
ADVERTISEMENT
Last month Cork beat promotion rivals Meath (1-23 to 1-21) at Páirc Uí Rinn in front of a crowd of 6,223 – and Cleary is hoping for a similar turnout and vocal support again this Saturday for a game the Rebels must win to keep their promotion bid alive heading into the final weekend.
‘We felt the last day against Meath that there was a great atmosphere there,’ Cleary said.
‘I think the crowd was about 6,000 or 6,500, but from where we were it looked like more. If you bring that type of crowd to Páirc Uí Chaoimh it can get lost a bit in the big stadium.
‘Coming down the home stretch against Meath it was a huge help when the crowd got behind the team. We asked for it and it was there, so it was a no-brainer to come back here again.’
With Cork locked in a three-way tie at the top of the table, Cleary hopes fans will pack Páirc Uí Rinn again this Saturday evening.
‘They were a huge help the last day. It was a very good game, up and down the field, and I think the crowd appreciated the effort the team was putting in,’ he said.
‘They really got behind us and probably helped us get over the line against Meath.’
On the injury front, Cleary is hopeful that both Brian O’Driscoll and Tommy Walsh could return to bolster Cork’s defensive options. He is less optimistic about the chances of Brian Hurley, Mark Cronin and Seán Brady featuring, while the return of Ian Maguire from suspension is another boost.
‘A couple of them are probably 50–50,’ Cleary said.
‘Brian Hurley would be 50–50 for the weekend. Brian O’Driscoll and Tommy Walsh should make it. Seán Brady is 50–50 and Mark Cronin is similar.
‘We’ll see how they are in training this week and we’ll be making late calls on two or three of them before Saturday.’
