JOHN Cleary has issued a rallying cry to Cork fans: we need your support in our huge game against Meath on Sunday.

With the top two in Division 2 going head to head at Páirc Uí Rinn (2pm), there is an opportunity for Cork to boost their promotion chances with a home win against a direct rival.

It won’t be easy though, as Meath, like Cork, have a 100 percent record after three rounds, so Rebels boss Cleary is hoping a large home support can rally behind his team in the biggest game of the season so far.

‘If there’s a crowd there will be a very good atmosphere. I’m sure Meath has a very good travelling crowd as well. We can’t be outdone by that, hopefully. I would hope that the Cork public would get behind us,’ Cleary declared.

He referenced their opening Division 2 win at home to Cavan last month when Cork came from behind to win 0-24 to 2-17 win. A game that preceded the Cork hurlers’ game against Waterford during a double header in Pairc Uí Chaoimh.

‘This will come down to small margins. The day against Cavan, when the crowd came in definitely was a help as we won by a point. We would be hoping that the Cork public would get behind us this Sunday.’

By winning their first three league games – the first time Cork have done this in either Division 1 or 2 since 2014 – the Rebels have put themselves in a strong position in their promotion push.

‘Division 2 is a tough division. You can go up as fast as you can go down. We are very happy to have three wins from three and looking forward to the Meath game,’ midfielder Colm O’Callaghan explained.

‘Promotion is what we’re looking at now. That’s obviously the aim at the start of every year. You want to be playing the best teams in the country. There is a lot of work to be done before Meath but we are delighted to be home again. It will be an enjoyable one.’

However, the sides that Cork have beaten – Cavan, Louth and Offaly – are all in the bottom three in the division. The next two games against Meath and Derry (away on Sunday, March 1st) will tell a lot.

‘Calling a spade a spade, we have met the teams down the lower end of the table. We knew when the draw was made, we had to get off to a good start. What’s coming now is a step up again,’ Cork boss Cleary warned.

‘We got out of jail against Cavan but two five-point victories being on the road, we have to be happy with that.’

Brian O’Driscoll and Brian Hurley picked up knocks and missed the Offaly game, but should be back for this weekend. Tommy Walsh was rested last weekend after his Sigerson Cup exploits with UL while Conor Corbett returned to the bench in the previous game.

Another aspect Cleary was pleased with was the ability to take goal chances against Offaly. Could they be striking the net at the right time?

‘It wasn’t as if we weren’t creating the chances on other days. I always said that the goals would come someday and, in fairness, they were good goals as well. The third goal was worked well all the way in and Mark (Cronin) finished it. We’d be happy with that,’ the Cork manager said.