EVER SINCE EOIN Cadogan made his Cork senior debut in 2007, he can recall the Rebels football squad being the subject of criticism.
Cadogan made his championship debut for Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final win over Meath that year. He went on to win an All-Ireland in 2010, as well as three National League medals.
The Douglas defender noted that even when Cork were kings, they shipped plenty of flack.
“The perception of Cork football was always that way. Even in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, it was never good enough. We were winning National league titles, we were competing in All-Ireland finals, we should have won more, we should have won this.
“Why didn’t ye win more? It was never good enough and that’s when we were winning.”
In recent years the clouds continue to darken over Cork football. They won just two games in Division 2 this year and barely scraped by bottom tier Waterford in the championship opener on Sunday.
“Bottom line is that we know ourselves as players that Saturday night wasn’t good enough. The amount of work that fellas have put in for the last seven weeks – and I’m not saying it for the sake of it – was unbelievable.
“They have put in a massive shift and Saturday night’s performance didn’t reflect the amount of work. For whatever reason that is, I can’t put my finger on it, but what I do know is that our objective was to be in a Munster semi-final and we are there.”
The Rebels found themselves behind in stoppage-time but late points from experienced duo Colm O’Neill and Paul Kerrigan got them out of jail.
“You put 15 men behind the ball it is going to take time and it is going to take patience regardless of what your county is or who you are.
“They were very well-structured and well-drilled. Their game plan was defensive but it was working for them well.
“It just took us a bit longer to break them down and when we did start to break them down very narrowly at the end it was our older guys who got us over the line.
“Donncha O’Connor, Alan O’Connor, James Loughrey, Mark Collins, Paul Kerrigan. They were the guys who came to the forefront.”
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