Welcome To Cork City

It’s a new challenge for Cork City in the 2020 season after a huge turnover in players since the end of last season. Club stalwarts such as Conor McCormack (Derry City), Garry Buckley (Sligo Rovers), Karl Sheppard (Shelbourne) have all departed while they have also lost Aaron Barry (Bray Wanderers), Conor McCarthy (St Mirren), Shane Griffin (St Patrick’s Athletic), Graham Cummins (Waterford).

Arriving into the club are Cian Coleman (St Patrick’s Athletic), Liam Bossin (Nottingham Forest), Charlie Fleming (Cobh), Rob Selvin and Corey Galvin (Waterford), Henry Ochieng (Wingate & Finchley), Dylan McGlade (Blyth Spartans), Conor Davis (Derry City), Kyron Stabana (Wimbledon), Reyon Dillon (Corinthians Casuals), Joe Redmond (Birmingham City).

An opening day defeat to Shelbourne, after the concession of an 89th minute goal to Ciaran Kilduff, was a big disappointment for Neale Fenn’s team. Some commentators have mentioned them as relegation candidates, while others still believe Cork possess enough quality to challenge for a European place. The fixture list certainly hasn’t been kind to them this weekend as they travel here tonight after a match in Tallaght Stadium with Shamrock Rovers.

Last season Cork produced to be very difficult opponents for Dundalk. A Michael Duffy goal separated the sides last March while Georgie Kelly got a late winner last September. Cork managed to win the last encounter between the sides in Turner’s Cross with Daire O’Connor scoring the only goal of the game.

WELCOME TO CORK CITY FC

MEET THE MANAGER NEALE FENN

Neale Fenn arrived at Cork City replacing John Caulfield. Undertaking his pro-licence course alongside Vinny Perth, Fenn had taken charge of Longford Town in June 2017 after a short spell as assistant at Leyton Orient and left them to take the top job at Turner’s Cross.

Fenn’s playing career began at Tottenham Hotspur. He made his debut in the FA Cup third Round at Manchester United in 1997. He moved to Peterborough United in 2001

before returning to Ireland to join Waterford United in 2003. He subsequently won a league title in Cork in 2005 and two at Bohs under Pat Fenlon. After joining Dundalk he announced his retirement in August 2010 before making a brief comeback to senior football a few days later at Shamrock Rovers.

Budget cuts have impacted upon Fenn’s hopes of success but nobody will be writing off Cork City FC from getting back to the top end of the table soon.

It was a disappointing start for Neale Fenn’s team with a 1-0 defeat to Shelbourne.

PLAYER PROFILES 2020 CORK CITY

1 MARK MCNULTY Bio: 39, Cork, Goalkeeper.. .......................................... Vastly experienced goalkeeper who joined City from Cobh in 2003. Played over 300 times for City and was number 1 for their 2016 Cup and 2017 Double success. ..........................................

2 CHARLIE FLEMING Bio: 21, Right-Back.

.......................................... Right-back who signed in December after spending five seasons at Cobh Ramblers making almost 90 first team appearances.

3 ALAN BENNETT Bio: 38, Cork, Centre-Back. .......................................... Experienced defender who won two full International caps in 2007. Began his career with Cork in 2000 before moving to England. Returned in 2015. ..........................................

4 ROB SLEVIN Bio: 21, Carrigaline, Centre-Back.. ........................................ Centre-back who joined last December from Waterford FC. He joined the Blues from UCC last summer and made 12 appearances in the 2019 campaign. ..........................................

7 DYLAN MCGLADE Bio: 24, Dublin, Forward. .......................................... Joined after Christmas from Blyth Spartans. Previously at Longford Town. Was named in the 2019 PFAI First Division Team of the Year. ..........................................

5 HENRY OCHIENG Bio: 21, Redbridge, Centre-Back ........................................ A Kenyan U23 international, Ochieng joined in late January. Part of the West Ham Academy before playing for Leyton Orient, Welwyn and Wingate & Finchley. .........................................

8 CIAN COLEMAN Bio: 23, Cork, Midfield. .......................................... Began his career at City before moving to Cobh, Limerick and St Pats. Returned to Turner’s Cross last November after making 26 appearances for Pats. ..........................................

10 DAIRE O’CONNOR Bio: 22, Midfield

.......................................... Joined City from UCD at the start of 2019. Made 29 Premier League apps last season and scored the winner for Cork against Dundalk last October. ..........................................

11 CORY GALVIN Bio: 23, Cork, Midfield. .......................................... Signed from Waterford from Bray. Previously played for Ipswich Town U18s, Cobh Ramblers and Cabinteely before his spell at the Carlisle Grounds. ..........................................

6 GEAROID MORRISSEY Bio: 28, Cork, Centre Midfield. ........................................ Has made over 300 appearances for Cork in two spells and also a season at Cambridge United. Part of the Cork City 2017 Double Winning team. ..........................................

9 CONOR DAVIS Bio: 21, Dublin, Striker.

.......................................... Joined City from Derry City having joined from UCD in the summer transfer window. Scored 8 goals to help UCD win promotion in 2018. ..........................................

14 RONAN HURLEY Bio: 17, Donegal. . Defender. .......................................... Boyce made his U19 Ireland debut in the 1-0 defeat to Sligo last October. He made his League of Ireland debut in the 4-0 win over Cork City. ..........................................

PLAYER PROFILES 2020 CORK CITY

15 DARRAGH CROWLEY Bio: 19, Cork, Forward. ........................................ Signed his first professional contract with Cork City last summer while studying for his Leaving Certificate. Made 12 appearances last season. .........................................

16 ALEC BYRNE Bio: 20, Cork, Midfield. .......................................... Signed his first professional deal with City back in early 2017 after graduating from the u17 and u19 teams after first playing for Carrigaline United. ..........................................

19 REYON DILLON Bio: 22, London, Forward. ........................................ Started his career at Crystal Palace and played most recently for Corinthian Casuals.

22 DESHANE DALLING Bio: 21, England, Midfield. ......................................... Signed on loan from QPR. Made his professional debut in the 5-1 FA Cup win over Swansea just six weeks ago. Made his debut in the 1-0 defeat to Shelbourne. .........................................

29 BEINEON O’BRIEN WHITMARSH Bio: 19, Fermoy, Forward. ........................................ Signed his first professional contract last July. Made his debut against Finn Harps last May and scored his first goal in the 3-0 win over Sligo Rovers last July. ........................................

20 JOE REDMOND Bio: 20, Dublin. Centre-Half. ........................................ Signed on loan from Birmingham until June 30th. He has been there since 2016 and is a regular for their U23 side and signed a new two year deal last July. ........................................

23 JOSEPH OLUWU Bio: 20, Ibadan, Centre-Back. ........................................ Joined on loan from Arsenal ahead of the season start. Made his debut against Shelbourne. Has played at U23 level with Arsenal.

31 CIAN BARGARY Bio: 19, Cork, Winger. ........................................ First joined City in 2017 and signed professionally last year. He made two appearances in the 2019 season.

17 KYRON STABANA Bio: 21, Leicester, Defender .......................................... Signed on loan from Wimbledon. Previous spells with Derby County and loans with Boston United and Tamworth. Five caps for England U17s. ..........................................

21 LIAM BOSSIN Bio: 23, Brussels, Goalkeeper. ........................................ Having played for White Star, he then joined Anderlecht. Was capped for Ireland U19s. Played for Nottingham Forest’s U23 side most recently. ........................................

24 CIAN MURPHY Bio: 19, Forward

........................................ Signed professionally last July and extended for 2020. Missed the majority of the 2019 season due to injury.