Cork City face tough trip to Derry on Friday
Following their narrow 2-1 defeat against Bohemians in their sold-out SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division opener last Friday night, it doesn’t get any easier for Cork City FC as they face a trip to Derry City this Friday night.
6,487 saw Cork City go 2 goals down against a good Bohemians side, before getting one goal back through Ruari Keating after 82 minutes and pushing for an equaliser. They came close late on but just couldn’t find one despite some late goal-line clearances from Bohs’ players.
After a poor first half which the Dublin side dominated, City’s comeback offers hope for the rest of the season, where the goal realistically is to avoid relegation.
Cobh Ramblers opened their Division 1 campaign with a good win 2-0 away to League of Ireland new boys Kerry.
Goals from Tom McAllister and Jack Doherty meant that Cobh got the season off to a great start. They face Wexford at home this Friday, where they will aim to make it two from two.
It was only in early February that Kildare-based businessman Dermot Usher officially took control of Cork City so investment in the playing side of the club has been limited.
Under manager Colin Healy, City won the first division last season with a youthful side.
Cork City sold a number of excellent young players in the off season to the UK, not least goalkeeper David Harrington who has gone to Fleetwood Town.
Teen striker Mark O'Mahony has been sold to Premier League side Brighton after making 11 appearances last season. He was the FAI’s U-17 Men’s International Player of the Year for 2022.
Other young stars in Franco Umeh have left for Crystal Palace while Leon Ayinde has gone to Ipswich Town.
Veteran goalkeeper Mark McNulty retired at the end of last season after 17 years with the club too.
Striker Tunde Olowabi has signed from St Patrick's Athletic with an interesting Scandanavian trio arriving too. Albin Winbo has arrived from Varbergs BoIS on loan along with Kevin Custovic from Vejle Boldklub while Daniel Krezic came from Varbergs BoIS.
They have also been bolstered by loan signings like goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi from Celtic, Corkman Ethon Varian from Bohemians and Ipswich’s Matthew Healy.
While champions Shamrock Rovers look to make history by securing their fourth league title in a row, they will face strong competition from a bolstered Derry City.
For Cork City, this will be a season of consolidation and a mid-table finish with a run in the cups would constitute a fine season.
Cork City play Derry City on Friday at 7.45pm at the Brandwell while Cobh Ramblers face Wexford at St Colemans Park on Friday at 7.45pm.