Cleary to remain on as Cork boss for two more years

John Cleary has been handed a two-year extension to remain on as manager of the Cork senior footballers.

A county committee meeting on Tuesday night rubberstamped Cleary's continued involvement after his term of three years at the helm ended with the Rebels' defeat to Dublin in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final on 21 June.

The Castlehaven clubman took over Cork on an initial basis from Keith Ricken in 2022 before assuming the role full-time. He went on to guide the county to All-Ireland quarter-final appearances against Dublin and Derry respectively.

In 2024, Cork fell to Louth at the preliminary quarter-final stage and an exit at the same juncture was the case this year despite leading the Dubs at the break.

Cleary will no doubt be keen to engineer Cork's promotion from Division 2 in 2026, all before a Munster Championship campaign where themselves and Kerry will be on opposites sides of the draw.

The decision to keep the counties apart came after the Munster Council accepted a proposal that the top two teams from the province in the previous year's Allianz Football League be seeded.

Kerry were crowned Division 1 champions back in March with Cork finishing fifth in Division 2. Clare, third in Division 3, were next best placed.

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