John Cleary was delighted after Cork defeated Tyrone to earn promotion to Division 1 of the Allianz Football League for the first time since 2016.

The 0-22 to 0-19 victory in Omagh was the Rebels’ sixth of the campaign and paves the way for a Division 2 final rematch against Meath in Croke Park next Sunday.

“At the end of the day we’re absolutely thrilled because we’re promoted,” the Cork manager told the media.

“There was a lot on the line for us today. It’s taken a big season for us to get here today to have the opportunity to come up here and get a victory. 

"But we did say before the game this is going to come down to the home straight, it’s going to come down to the last five, ten minutes and we had fellas that stepped up in fairness.

“Division 2 was a very, very difficult league to get out of this year. We had two of last year’s All-Ireland semi-finalists, we had the league winners from Division 1 from two years ago and we had the Leinster champions."

Cleary added: “When the draw was made, we had two trips up north, a trip to Louth, a trip to Offaly. So it was going to be very difficult and it was very difficult. When there’s a bit of luck going, I think we deserved it and we’re absolutely thrilled now to get promotion.” 

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