Cork need to improve their Allianz Football League form quickly or they could end up in the Tailteann Cup, warns Austin O'Malley.
The Rebels were beaten by Louth in Ardee – 2-09 to 0-13 – for the second year in a row on Sunday, and were one of two Division 2 teams, along with Kildare, to lose both their opening games, following the loss in Donegal
"Cork have stuttered," the former Mayo forward told 2fm's Game On.
"They would have been disappointed to go down to Louth. Louth caught them with two sucker punches, goals before half-time.
"So Johnny Cleary is a manager who probably has a little bit of head-scratching and homework to do over the break to see where they can go."
With provincial champions and hot favourites Kerry awaiting the winner of Cork-Limerick in the Munster semi-final, last year's All-Ireland quarter-finalists will want to make sure their place in the Sam Maguire Cup is already assured by finishing in the top half of Division 2.
Last season, sixth-placed Meath ended up in the Tailteann Cup - and won it - so they will be guaranteed a spot in 2024 regardless of league performance.
One of Kildare, Louth and lower division Carlow, Wicklow, Wexford or Westmeath will be in the Leinster final, as will Down, Antrim, Fermanagh or Armagh in Ulster, and Clare, Waterford or Tipperary in Munster.
Qualification will be precarious again for the teams at the wrong end of Division 2 - especially if league teams ranked lower can make a provincial final - and 23-time finalists Cork won’t want to be among them.
"They will be absolutely cognisant of that," said O'Malley. "That’s why these earlier rounds are so important.
"I’m sure they would have looked to that Louth game. They have a little bit of history, they had a fantastic game against them last year as well in Ardee.
"You’d still think they’d probably have enough to climb up but it certainly would be a worry.
"It would be unheard of. The GAA need the likes of Cork in their primary competitions."
Cork host Cavan next on 17 February followed by a trip to Fermanagh.
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