JOHN Cleary's Cork footballers fly to Portugal next Tuesday for a four-day warm-weather training camp - and the hope is they’ll depart with promotion close to wrapped up. Victory away to Derry this Sunday would mean only score difference could prevent Cork from rejoining the League’s topflight after 10 years away. A three-way tie on 10 points featuring Cork, Meath, and Louth is also a runner, with that scenario requiring Cork and Louth to inflict back-to-back defeats on Derry across Rounds 5 and 6. In 2024, they finished their League campaign by winning away to Meath and drawing at home to already promoted Armagh. The former Cork hurler and footballer will be absent for the 2026 season because of work commitments abroad.

Source: Irish Examiner February 24, 2026 16:01 UTC