2022 Season Preview: Cork City

Manager: Colin Healy

Stadium: Turners Cross

Players in: Corey Chambers (Cobh Ramblers), Matthew Srbely (Tampa Bay Rowdies on loan), Matthew Healy (Ipswich Town on loan), Barry Coffey (Glasgow Celtic on loan), Kevin O’ Connor and Allister Gilchrist (Shelbourne), Ruari Keating (Galway Utd), Jimmy Corcoran (Wexford FC), James Doona (Athlone Town).

Players out: Gearóid Morrissey (Retired), Steven Beattie, Jamie Wynne, Sean Kennedy and Jack Walsh (All Released), Beineón O’Brien-Withmarsh, Dale Holland, Luke Desmond, Issa Kargbo, Sean McGrath (All Cobh Ramblers), Rob Slevin (Finn Harps), Cathal Heffernan (AC Milan)

Extratime.com Key Man: Cian Murphy

For all the strengthening that has taken place in defence and midfield, a side will always need someone to convert the chances to win a game.

Often, Murphy was the primary goal-getter last season. It took him a few games to find his feet, but he ended up as top scorer with eleven goals and among the top five of the division. For a young striker with only a few appearances in the previous two seasons, he thrived as the season went on.

He proved equally as adept playing with another striker or as lone forward with support behind. His link-up play and assists were proof of that.

If he can continue on with this form, and maybe add a few more goals this season, he could be the difference between a decent season and a successful one.

Extratime.com One to Watch: Cian Bargary

Healy’s preferred formation last season alternated between a front-three and that of dual strikers depending on the occasion. One of the players who became a key feature in the line-up was the home-grown talent of Cian Bargary. He was another one of the players from Cork’s underage structure who established himself last season.

His pacy and direct style suited, both as support to a loan striker or playing on the left side of midfield. Possessing speed, trickery and a willingness to get into the area endeared him to supporters. Fellow speed merchants like Dylan McGlade and Darragh Crowley certainly make the side a major threat on the break.

How they did last season:

League:

Despite being one of the tips for promotion, it was a season that was marked by inconsistency.

A combination of injuries to key players, lapses of concentration and poor form at home left them hovering near the bottom of the table. Only two wins in the opening eleven games was not what supporters expected and defeats to Cobh Ramblers and Treaty United stung badly.

A run of seven games without defeat briefly gave them a glimpse of catching those ahead in the play-off spots.

The arrival of Aaron Bolger and Barry Coffey afforded them greater thrust and creativity in midfield, while the backline found a degree of stability.

They were still drawing too many games in this run. Injuries and suspensions cost them dearly against Shelbourne at a crucial point. Failure to beat the likes of Bray and Treaty in the run-in ultimately ended any lingering hopes of finishing in the play-offs. Finishing four points adrift will have made fans bemoan those dropped points earlier on.

FAI Cup: Second round

The cup games demonstrated the ability in the side. Drawn away to Sligo Rovers in the first round, few would have given them much of a hope against the Premier Division title contenders.

A back-and-forth contest at the Showgrounds was decided in the Leesiders favour by a late Dale Holland winner.  

St Patrick’s Athletic were also expected to be red-hot favourites in the next round. The home-side were in confident mood however and afforded them little space or time to play with.

It was the Saints ‘keeper who was the busier of the two. As the game approached injury time, it seemed that the away side were destined to go through with Craig Forrester slotting home a penalty in the 90^th minute.

City kept up the momentum and were rewarded for their effort as Barry Coffey netted in the final minute. Extra-time could not separate the two, but the Premier Division side prevailed in the penalty shoot-out.

What to expect this season:

City were never really in the promotion shake-up last season. The same probably will not be accepted by the fans for this campaign.

The board have made their intentions clear by the recruitment and retention of key players that returning to the Premier Division is necessary.

Ally Gilchrist impressed for champions Shelbourne last season, while the extending Coffey and Bolger’s time at CIty says much of the ambition of the club.

Given the level of competition in the nine team league this season, there will be intense pressure for top spot.

Waterford’s relegation adds to the number of Munster based sides in the division.

Elsewhere, Galway, Bray and Treaty will be looking to do better than last year.

City struggled to gain many points from those sides above them in the table and this is a situation that needs to be rectified to stand any hope.

A semblance of a settled defence began to emerge towards the end of the season which should help clear up costly mistakes in key games.

Cian Murphy will probably start as the main striker, but James Doona and new signing Ruairí Keating will provide decent back-up.

The departure of Gearóid Morrissey and Steven Beattie takes away key experience in midfield, but Cian Coleman showed good leadership abilities and adaptability.

Making Turners Cross a tough place to visit, being more clinical and having more of a settled side will go a long way to success come October.

First game: The Rebels travel to the Carlisle Grounds to face Bray Wanderers on Friday, 18 February (kick-off 7.45pm).

2022 Season Preview: St Patrick's Athletic https://t.co/G33hjbFIH2pic.twitter.com/2PDk8c4LEs

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) February 17, 2022