2021 Season Preview: Cork City

Colin Healy will be working with a young squad at Cork City this year.

Colin Healy will be working with a young squad at Cork City this year. Credit: Steve Alfred (ETPhotos)

Manager: Colin Healy

Stadium: Turners Cross

Players in: Steven Beattie (Chattanooga Red Wolves), George Heaven (Stratford Town), Gordon Walker (UCC), Jamie Wynne (Dundalk), Jack Baxter (Preston North End on loan), Jack Walsh (Avondale), Jonas H?kkinen (FC Haka), Paul Hunt (Cobh Ramblers)

Players out: Alan Bennett (Retired), Jake O’ Brien (Crystal Palace), Scott Fenwick (Released), Connor Simpson (Released), Charlie Fleming (Treaty Utd), Henry Ochieng (Watford), Conor Davis (Longford), Liam Bossin (FC Dordrecht), Daire O’ Connor (Cliftonville), Kevin O’ Connor (Shelbourne), Deshane Dalling (Loan from QPR ended), Joseph Olowu (Loan from Arsenal ended)

Extratime.com Key Man: Steven Beattie

Much has changed in the three years since he departed the club at the end of the 2018 season. He left to ply his trade in the US, where he has proven to be a major success. Scoring and contributing plenty of assists in his spell there. He never lost touch with the City supporters as he was regularly keeping track of affairs. This always kept up the faint hope of a return and it finally came to pass in January.

Equally adapt playing as a left-back, a midfielder or a number ten, Beattie provides a versatility which is lacking somewhat in the squad. But one of the most critical elements is the experience he provides. In a squad that is dominated by promise and youthful energy, he is one of a few to have known what it is to achieve success at the top level. 

Extratime.com One to Watch: Dylan McGlade

One of the main areas of the pitch City struggled in was that of goalscoring. Ten goals in the league campaign, and only one in which they scored more than once was a damning statistic.The side was usually on the back-foot in many of the games and found it hard to create many chances. Often the strikers employed were feeding on scraps. And those asked to step up were generally inexperienced. 

One of those who made his mark was Dylan McGlade. Equally comfortable playing on the wing, or as part of a front three, the former Bray and Longford attacker impressed in his debut season. He is one of a few impressive forwards vying for a starting position. McGlade has impressed during the warm-up games, especially in the Waterford game. Given the time to properly settle into the side, he should find the first division defences easier to deal with. 



 

How they did last season:

League: It was a struggle from the very beginning. Neale Fenn’s side had a tough start losing at home to Shelbourne and hammerings away to Rovers and Dundalk. The only points came in this period was a home win against Finn Harps. As the country went into lockdown, the league campaign was suspended for almost five months. 

Hopes of survival were raised with a solid draw away to Waterford and a strong win against Sligo Rovers. This helped the club jump positions in the league. It would be their last victory though. Dropped points to the likes of Shelbourne and Finn Harps, plus a heavy loss away to Bohs, saw the end of Fenn’s reign. 

Colin Healy stepped in as interim manager but was unable to stop the rot. A loss to Sligo, added with a Harps victory, sealed their fate. They eventually finished bottom. 

FAI Cup: The cup provided one or two moments of hope. They were able to avoid a shock at home to Longford thanks to a last-minute goal from debutant Ricardo Dinanga. Remarkably it had been their first goal since February. 



Despite a well-worked Morrissey equaliser away to Shamrock Rovers, a Danny Lafferty double ended their campaign early. It had been an encouraging display against the league leaders. They were unable to build upon it though. 

What to expect this season:

City are returning back to division one for the first time in a decade. Quite a few will fancy their chances of being in the mix at the end. Cabinteely and Treaty Utd will be a new face for them but many of the others are familiar opponents - particularly Galway and John Caulfield. 

The combination of Steven Beattie back with Gearoid Morrissey in midfield is a tantalising one. Both have a strong blend of grit and creativity needed to operate at this level. If they can seize control of this area of the pitch, it should provide the ammo to the exciting forward line at their disposal. 

Playing Galway on the final game of the season has already been earmarked as a possible promotion six-pointer. It is critical that City are in touch by that stage to stand any chance. A strong start is imperative in this regard. Two Munster derbies in the first three games will certainly test their mettle. 

 

Title Odds: 5/1

First game: Cobh Ramblers (home) March 26th at 19:45.

    About Philip Morrissey

    Philip is a Cork City fan for his entire adult life. From bad times to good, whether this was taking on some major European sides or in the First Division. Philip went back to college … View Full Profile