JOHN Cleary has challenged his Cork footballers to back up their McGrath Cup success by delivering in their opening Division 2 league game this Sunday.

The Rebels enjoyed a timely lift last weekend when they beat All-Ireland champions Kerry in Killarney to claim the McGrath Cup, but Cleary is well aware that the real business begins now, with Cavan visiting Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The Cork boss pointed to recent history as a note of caution. When the Rebels won the McGrath Cup in both 2023 and 2024, they went on to lose their opening Division 2 fixtures – at home to Meath in 2023 and away to Donegal in 2024.

‘There are eight teams in this division, and everyone will want to get two points on the board this weekend because it’s the ideal start and a big lift,’ Cleary told The Southern Star.

‘The McGrath Cup is different in that it’s 30 minutes a half, so the jump to 35 minutes per half is big. We brought on ten subs against Kerry, so you can’t really compare it to what’s coming in the league.

‘It was good to get game-time into lads, and even if you were only on the field for half an hour against Kerry, they are good minutes.

‘But the last two times we won the McGrath Cup, we were beaten the following week in the first league match. While it’s good preparation, this Sunday will be completely different. We know that, and we know what we need to do to get two points on the board.’

While promotion is an ambition, Cleary’s immediate focus is firmly on the opening block of fixtures – home to Cavan this weekend, followed by an away trip to Louth.

‘A promotion push is the aim every year, and all eight teams will start out hoping to push on,’ he said.

‘Looking at the bookies’ odds, we’re either fourth or fifth favourites to group, so we know how formidable the challenge is. The draw wasn’t overly kind, with some tough games later in the league, but all we can do is take it game by game.

‘Right now, all we’re looking at is Cavan on Sunday. After that, we’ll get ready for Louth the following weekend. There are no games the week after, so this is a block of two matches we’re targeting, and hopefully we can get off to a good start and take it from there.’

Cleary also confirmed that, contrary to reports earlier this week, captain Ian Maguire has a chance of being involved against Cavan, most likely from the bench.

‘Ian is back training and we’ll make a call closer to the weekend,’ Cleary said.

‘He had his rest time after the Barrs, then he got married over Christmas, so he’s only back with us this past week. He’s unlikely to start, but we’ll see how the week goes and whether he’s available for the bench.’

Conor Corbett, Eoghan McSweeney and Eanna O’Hanlon are ruled out of Sunday’s opener. But Newcestown’s David Buckley could feature.

‘He is back in training. He had an injury before Christmas, and was sick then. He is back in training, and trained last week. It depends on how the week goes,’ the Cork boss said.

Meanwhile, Cleary poured cold water on any suggestions that Castlehaven footballer Jack Cahalane could be drafted into the football set-up after he wasn’t named in Ben O’Connor’s Cork senior hurling panel this week. Cahalane was previously involved with the county footballers.

‘The season is on now, we have guys in with the last two or three months. Even with the hurling panel, maybe it’s not set in stone so fellas can come in and out. I would think the 46 players we have been looking at are the fellas we are looking at,’ Cleary said.