City look to attack the new season
While there is great excitement at Cork City’s return to the highest division of Irish club football, it’s tempered by some of the unknowns.
Since City were relegated from the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division at the end of the 2020 season, they have become a yo-yo club while the standards in the top division have increased significantly.
The League of Ireland is in its strongest position in years, with hugely increased tv and radio deals showcasing the increased interest. Bohemians play Shamrock Rovers in the Aviva this Sunday with over 25,000 tickets sold and it’s just a league game while St Patrick’s Athletic sold 17 year old Mason Melia to English giants Tottenham Hotspur for over €1m - the first transfer from the League of Ireland for a figure that bid. In Cork, Cobh Ramblers are under exciting new ownership and have signed a team that looks very strong for the First Division, including a host of ex-City players.
City manager Tim Clancy may not be sure just how strong his squad is yet but he does know that he possesses two of the best strikers in the league in Seanie Maguire and Ruairí Keating, so City will always have a chance. Add in the mercurial Ireland underage international Cathal O’Sullivan and City will certainly have a goal threat.
City were promoted last year after dominating the First Division. Nine of that team left and City have brought in eight players, although most haven't played in the league before making them unknown quantities.
However Tim Clancy admitted to RTÉ that City have to be realistic, saying it’s “probably a two-tier league. The Dublin clubs are very strong. Derry are spending a lot of money. And then you have probably the rest of us.
“The other five clubs, which people will be pointing fingers at and saying that's where the team is going to get relegated from. It's up to us to bridge the gap and get closer to the top as opposed to looking over our shoulder at the bottom,” he said.
Defending champions Shelbourne will face a tough battle to retain their title against the likes of Shamrock Rovers, who have earned millions during their European campaign, a resurgent Stephen Kenny-lead St Patrick’s Athletic, big money Derry City and John Caulfield’s Galway United. Bohemians have signed Lys Mousset who played for Bournemouth and Sheffield United in the Premier League and is only 29. They will seek a big improvement on last season making it a very competitive division.
Cobh look set for a real promotion push under new manager Mick McDermott. They have signed Premier Division champion Shane Griffin from Shelbourne as well as former Waterford player Shane Griffin. Former Cork City players Cian Coleman, Barry Coffey, Jonas Hakkinen and Jack Doherty and Cian Barbary have all been added too.
Cobh are a club on the up and promotion is very possible. They will aim to go up as champions although Dundalk are favourites ahead of the new season.
Cork City’s first game is against Caulfield’s Galway United at Turner’s Cross on Friday at 7.45pm.
Cobh Ramblers kick off in Limerick on Friday against Treaty United at 7.45pm.