Doolin optimistic for season ahead

Following a game in which his side had twice let slip a winning advantage, Cork City boss Paul Doolin reflected on what was a useful run out for his squad.

"It was a good game, the second half was better, the game was better all round in the second. We scored, then gave away a penalty, and scored again, and we really should have had a few more. Dan Murray was unlucky a few times, but we gave away a bad goal at the end. It is only our second game since last season and it is good to get games."

With a number of signings made to date, Doolin revealed when asked about how he has adapted to life with the Rebels that his search for additions to the squad is not yet over. "I am settling in okay, there is a bit of work to be done at the club so we will see how it goes. We started late, and I am trying to get a couple of more players, but we haven't got a bad squad.

"There is a lot of good players here and you have some new players and a new manager, so it is a different team to before. We have scored five goals and conceded three in the two games so it is not so bad. The lads are only settling in, they are only finding their feet. Robert (Zemeckis) has played with the national team and he did well, Kudozovic is another new player and we are optimistic."

Doolin also admitted he was unsure how positive an effect the new ten-team league would have in its first season, and whether the intensity and quality of the League would be diluted by the repetitive nature of the fixture list. "It's very difficult to know. I don't know if the quality will be as good. We could play Bohs, Pats, or Derry seven times if we were to draw them in the FAI Cup and the Setanta Cup. That's a lot."