ONE more opportunity for players to show John Cleary what they are made of before Cork’s National Football League Division 2 campaign begins.

Their McGrath Cup final is against arch nemesis Kerry this Saturday (1.30pm) in Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney but it’s not a game Cleary is looking to win per say.

‘We have to get our panel settled and see who the best players are around. We don’t get much time to experiment. The league is starting in two weeks’ time. We had the Limerick match, the Tipp match, a couple of challenge matches and that’s it,’ the Cork boss explained.

‘To be fair to fellas, it’s not fair throwing them into the heat of league or championship without blooding them somewhere. Some of those guys are not ready this year but as I said to them inside there (after their loss to Limerick), they can go back to their clubs and colleges and this time next year, be ready. They know what’s involved in it now. They are the next generation and a lot of them will play plenty of times for Cork in the future.’

After playing an experienced side against Tipperary, and winning 1-26 to 0-10, and a heavily rotated one which lost to Limerick (3-11 to 0-15).

This Kerry test will be seen as a last chance to gain match sharpness before Division 2 fixtures that Cleary is targeting.

Their first two games at home to Cavan (Sunday, January 25th) and away to Louth (Sunday, February 1st) are ideal chances to make a fast start.

Their pre-season final is up first but thoughts are already focused to further down the line.

‘It’s another game. We’ll have to decide now who needs games. It’s not our priority. Two weeks’ time is our priority. If fellas need a game on Saturday, that’s what we are going to give them. We’ve not overly worried about winning the game or not. It will be another tough game and great preparation going into the league.

‘Anytime you play Kerry, it will be a good test but as I said, we’re not worried about that too much. If we can come out of it with a clean bit of health and get game time into guys, it would be great. Our sole priority is next Sunday week against Cavan,’ Cleary emphasised.

As well as giving well needed matches to those who haven’t played in the first two games, this is a good game to get for the newer members of the panel too.

Of those who started against Limerick, only Sean Meehan and Kevin O’Donovan could be considered as experienced players from the last number of years.

Another chance to show what players are made of no doubt as Cleary has to cut his panel down from 46 to 36.

On the injury front, it’s looking like the panel has a clean bit of health.

‘We’ll be looking at the panel over the next few weeks. Thanks be to God, our injury count this year isn’t too bad. Like every team in the country, we’ll have an extended panel at the start and cut it back as the league starts,’ the Cork manager said.