Season Review 2021: Cork City

Team:                 Cork City 

Head Coach:      Colin Healy 

Top Scorer:        Cian Murphy (11) 

Stadium:            Turner’s Cross

Highest Attendance: 2,300 (3-0 win v Galway United, 29 October)

Lowest Attendance: 0 

Star Player: Cian Murphy

He might have been on the periphery of the side in previous seasons, but this year the Tipperary native really established himself in the first team. It took him a few games to get going but once he scored his first senior goal for the club against Wexford, he went on to finish as top scorer for City and fourth highest in the division with 11 goals. 

Some highlights include that debut brace, a superb solo effort in the derby encounter with local rivals Cobh, a well taken double at home to play-off finalist Bray and a precise strike up at Shelbourne. 

His goals were one thing, but he also managed to notch up an impressive number of assists. He struck up a decent partnership with Beineon O’ Brien-Withmarsh which really benefited the side.



Indeed, with more clinical finishing from both, they could well have been pushing towards double figures each. His hold-up play was also a strong aspect of his performances which allowed for him to start as a loan striker in certain games.

Even before the end of the season, he has been tied down for another year. City fans will be hoping for much more next year. 

Best Young Player: Ronan Hurley

In a defence which was often wracked by injuries and errors, Ronan Hurley was a model of consistency. After coming through the ranks and making a few appearances in the Premier Division last season, he set about making himself a regular on the team sheet. 

Equally comfortable in his regular position of right-back, or at centre-half, he impressed many with his performances this year. Calm under pressure, strong in the tackle and comfortable on the ball made him a key member of the side. He also notched up two assists. 

The partnerships with Gordon Walker, Jonas Hakkinen and others could be a huge benefit to City’s prospects. There are plenty of young attacking talent in the squad such as Cian Bargary, Sean Kennedy and Darragh Crowley. The presence of a solid base will only benefit them going forward. 



Best New Signing: Barry Coffey

It was somewhat of a coup when Colin Healy was able to add the loan signing of Coffey from Glasgow Celtic. He had garnered a reputation for an emerging talent with the Scottish giants and also with the Irish underage sides. Healy had worked with both himself and Aaron Bolger with the under-19 side and was able to use that past relationship to encourage both to join in July. 

Bolger impressed with his steady passing and midfield work, but it was Coffey who really fired the imagination of the fans. His willingness to make runs into the box, alongside incisive through-balls made him one to look out for. Capable of playing in midfield, or as support to the strikers, he was vital to the best period in City’s season. Despite his short spell on Leeside, he finished joint second in the scoring charts. Fans are hoping to see much more of him. 

What we expected they would do:

Ahead of the start of the season, the extratime.com team predicted that City would finish third (see here). 

What they actually did:

SSE Airtricity League 

Ahead of the season, we wrote how City needed to begin well to keep up with the pacesetters. ”A strong start is imperative in this regard. Two Munster derbies in the first three games will certainly test their mettle.”

And it was a test that City ultimately failed to pass. An opening day win against local rivals, Cobh Ramblers, offered hope but the second saw them lose to First Division debutantes Treaty United. It was in a run of four defeats in a row which left them looking more towards the bottom than the promotion spots. 

Constant changes with the line-up due to poor individual mistakes and long-term injuries did not help with consistency. Indeed, they were only able to put back-to-back wins on one occasion. A poor return of points from those above them, plus a tendency to be overly cautious on the road, was key to this. 

Results and performances did pick up after the mid-season break as Healy was able to field something approaching the side he wanted to pick. Some highlights as they stuck four past Cobh and Wexford, beat Galway United twice and saw the return of fans to Turner’s Cross. 

They were never able to get into the play-off spots, despite pushing Bray and Treaty close as the season drew near its end. There were just too many points to make up on those above them and not enough time unfortunately. Sixth place and the sense of what may have been. 

FAI Cup

This was the competition that City most excelled and were able to demonstrate their capabilities that made their league form so puzzling. Drawn away to Premier Division title challengers, Sligo Rovers, little was expected from their first-round encounter.

Least of all when Romeo Parkes put the home side in front. It seemed a matter of how many they might get. However, intelligent build-up play drew City level through Beineon O’ Brien-Withmarsh. A Dylan McGlade penalty put them in front before Parkes equalised for Sligo. Both sides had chances, but it was Dale Holland who netted the winner with minutes left on the clock.

The draw then paired them with another high-flyer in the guise of St. Patrick’s Athletic. Form had picked up in the league, and they showed their Premier Division opponents no respect. Getting in their faces and pressing high up the pitch.

It was Viteslav Jaros in the Pats goal who was responsible for keeping them in the game denying the likes of Coffey, Murphy and McGlade with important saves. The longer it stayed scoreless, the more likely it was that one slip could prove vital. 

A dubious looking penalty was awarded after McCormack went to ground under the challenge of George Heaven. Craig Forrester slotted past Mark McNulty. Even then City were not finished. Deep into injury time, Coffey pounced at the back post to equalise. Extra-time could not separate the sides and it went to penalties. 

Unfortunately, Coffey and Crowley were unable to score, and the Inchicore side went through. Possibly the toughest challenge the cup finalists have had so far. 

What they need to improve on for next year:

Already work has begun on the squad to get them sufficiently ready for a sustained push for promotion. Ally Gilchrist has arrived from Shelbourne to help bolster the defence while James Doona from Athlone will provide them another attacking option. Key members from this season’s squad such as Jonas Hakkinen, Ronan Hurley and Cian Bargary have already committed to the club for next season. 

This is crucial as the league is going to be very competitive next season. Galway United will be expecting to go one better than a play-off defeat, Treaty will aim to build on their success, Longford will aim to bounce back and whoever misses out in the promotion-relegation play-off.

Results against those sides will be critical towards deciding the final places at the end. Cork City must improve in this regard. They only lost three away games to sides above them but conversely only managed to beat one of these sides. 

They will still be seen as a big prize to knock off for many clubs in the division and allure of playing at a full Turner’s Cross will be high on the list. They will have to make the ground a fortress and a tough place to play for visiting teams. Cutting out some of the costly errors that blighted the season will go a long way to achieving that. 

    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