Dunleavy commits to Rebel cause

On Thursday night Cork City announced the re-signing of versatile player Johnny Dunleavy on a one year contract. The commitment of Dunleavy to John Caulfield’s cause is yet another example of the swiftness with which new manager has gone about his business in the off season – despite not taking up the reins fulltime until 2^nd January.

After putting pen to paper for what will be his third season at the club, Extratime.ie caught up with the former Wolverhampton Wanderers youngster to ask him about his decision to stay.

“For me it was an easy decision to make. I’ve loved Cork since I’ve been down here and I’ve really settled in well in the place and the club. I really enjoy playing down here.

“When I saw John coming in and I saw the plans for next year – the signings that were coming in, it sort of made the decision for me and I was delighted to get it sorted as quickly as we did.

“I did have offers from a couple of other clubs as well, but it’s very exciting times down here with John coming back and the signings coming in. I really liked his visions for the future and his plans for the club so it wasn’t a difficult decision in the end.”

Despite being roughly 400km away from his home of Ballybofey, the 22 year old now considers Cork somewhat of a home away from home.

In Thursday’s press release, manager Caulfield said that “Johnny is a Donegal lad but he has settled in Cork and will turn into a Cork guy”.

So how far has Dunleavy come in becoming an honorary Cork-man and what is possibly the real motive behind his decision to stay.

“I have to say I’m partial to an odd KC’s. We’ll say nothing to the manager about that during the season, but KC’s is pretty special now – you don’t get that up at home.”

The Republic of Ireland U21 international arrived in the League of Ireland in January 2012 via the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS – an unorthodox route you might say. After graciously indulging me by listening to me talk about my J1 to Vancouver in 2003 and my plans to visit there again in 2014, Dunleavy explains that his time there was enjoyable but all too brief and doesn’t rule out a return to the MLS at some stage.

“Unfortunately myself and the manager didn’t really see eye to eye. That’s probably putting it mildly now. He won’t be getting a Christmas card from me this year, let’s put it like that.

“Nonetheless it experience and Vancouver was a brilliant city. I think in the future I certainly wouldn’t mind playing in the MLS at some point. It’s something that I might look to do at some stage in the future.”

For now though, Dunleavy is focussed on the task at hand and talks excitedly about the future at Cork City. The positive belief he displays is not too dissimilar from that of Gearóid Morrissey or Garry Buckley in their recent interviews with Extratime.ie, and it is obvious that the players have wholeheartedly bought into John Caulfield’s vision for the club.

We discuss pre-season as Dunleavy looks to avoid a repeat of the severe tonsillitis he endured last season by “taking every vitamin and every supplement known to man to hopefully keep it at bay” and we suggest maybe he should avoid the wistful looks from local Cork women under the festive mistletoe – the type of problems we can only imagine a professional footballer has to endure.

“I might just have to abstain for now alright and keep myself to myself over Christmas” he chuckles.

The conversation moves to the ins and outs at the club, and I ask Dunleavy does he see the club currently in a stronger position than this time last year.

“I think we have definitely recruited very well.

“It’s a blow to lose lads, it’s never nice to lose players. At the same time though, that’s football and the lads that do leave you just wish them all the best and hope that wherever they move on to they do very well as well.

“But I do think we have brought in some top quality players and I think it shows the intent of the club moving forward.

“Next year, with the squad that we’ve got, we’ll probably be looking to compete on all levels really.

“At the end of the day for a club the size of Cork City and for the support that we have in the city down here that has got to be your aim every year. I think now is an exciting time and I definitely think now there’s an opportunity for the club to compete for trophies next year.”

It is often debated on Leeside as to Dunleavy’s position, and having featured all across the back four as well as in midfield in 2013, he tells of us his hope to fix on one position next year.

“It’s something I’ve spoken to the manager about. I’ve no problem being a versatile player and in a way it is a string to my bow that I can play in a few positions. But it’s also probably unhelpful in that it’s nice to have your position as well and learn it and perfect your craft.

“John’s spoken to me and he has an idea of where he wants me to play next season. I’m very behind him on that, so hopefully come the start of next season I’ll be a little more settled.

“But if I have to play somewhere else at some stage, I won’t mind at all but hopefully come the start of next season I’ll settle in one position.”

Alas Dunleavy stops short of revealing where that will be, but it is expected that the utility player may make the right back slot his own when the League of Ireland season resumes in 13 weeks.

One thing he does reveal though is his desire to get on the scoresheet more often. Having scored a dramatic late equaliser away to Shamrock Rovers in 2012 (one of his self-confessed highlights at the club so far), Dunleavy has not found the back of the net since and tells us he is not happy with this drought.

“To be honest I was probably a bit disappointed that I didn’t score last season. I had two chances to score against St Pats in the last game of the season and I didn’t and I was disgusted by that for a couple of days after.

“It is something that I will be looking to address in the next season alright. I might not get many, but if I can add a few more to my game it will certainly do no harm.”