Gaynor commits to Cork City for 2015

Hot on the heels of last Saturday’s signing of Karl Sheppard from Shamrock Rovers, Cork City have announced that Ross Gaynor has extended his stay with the club for the 2015 season.

The 27-year-old signed for the Rebel Army from Sligo Rovers in the summer transfer window, and immediately impressed the Turner’s Cross faithful starring at left back on nine occasions. Speaking to CorkCityFC.ie, the former Cobh Ramblers player indicated that his future on Leeside was never in doubt.

“I spoke to John before the end of the season, and we agreed that I would be here next year, so it was just a case of discussing terms. As soon as I sat down with John, the deal was done in two minutes and I wasn’t going anywhere else; I’m delighted to be here.

“When I came in for my first day of training, I knew the standard had to be high and thankfully I kept up to that standard. I have heard that pre-season is very tough here; a lot of the goals we score are towards the end of games, so obviously fitness is key. I’m excited and I’m looking forward to getting as fit as I can.”

Indeed it is not just a one-way admiration from the Cork City fans for Ross Gaynor. Speaking to Cork City’s match programme City Edition in August, Gaynor told of the immediate impression the club’s famous ‘Shed-end’ made on him during his debut for the club against St Patrick’s Athletic.

“We were sitting in the changing room before tip-off and we had ten minutes to ourselves. It felt like the changing room was bouncing – that’s what the atmosphere was like. I’ve never experienced anything like it. Even when I was at the Aviva last year, it was nowhere near the noise levels I experienced last Friday. If you can’t play in them games and you can’t get up for them games, you might as well not be a footballer. They’re the games you want to play in. They’re the atmospheres you want to be part of and I felt a part of the club last Friday. I felt the passion and everything, so it was a joy to be on the pitch for it.”

Having experienced European football as recently as last summer, the left sided player brings much welcome European experience to a Cork side that are returning to the European stage. Again speaking to CorkCityFC.ie, Gaynor was hopeful of his side’s prospects.

“Hopefully we can get through a couple of rounds; with the fans we have here we can go as far as we want and hopefully that’s what we’re going to do.”

Having vowed to tie down his team for 2015 early, Cork City manager John Caulfield has begun to make good on his promise and was delighted to add the Dundalk native to his panel for the new year.

“I’m thrilled to have Ross back on board. Everyone could see that he had a big impact when he joined the club for the last third of the season, and he did brilliantly for us at left back. He’s a valuable guy in the squad; he has a great attitude, trains hard and is a really popular guy within the squad. Not only is he a great player, but he offers us huge experience.

“Originally, when we signed him, it was until the end of the season, but he has had a big impact and has got on so well, so it is a great signing for us. He has tonnes of experience; he won a league and a number of cups with Sligo, he’s played in Europe a number of times, all of which is very valuable. It is great to get it tied up so quickly; he is really looking forward to it and so are we.”

Gaynor is the ninth player officially tied down for next season on Leeside, with other members of the 2014 side expected to follow suit and sign on the dotted line in the coming days.

Players committed for 2015 season:

Mark McNulty

Liam Kearney

Billy Dennehy

Garry Buckley

Cillian Morrison

Mark O'Sullivan

John Dunleavy

Ross Gaynor

Karl Sheppard (from Shamrock Rovers).

Click to view the full 2014 Airtricity League Close Season Transfer List