McCormack Pens Pat's Extension

St. Patrick’s Athletic have been boosted by the news that midfielder-cum-right-full, Conor McCormack has opted to extend his stay with the Inchicore men for at least another season. The Greenore man made 24 league appearances for Liam Buckley’s side last season and was an important figure in their successful FAI Cup campaign.

Success in Ireland

That FAI Cup triumph now means that McCormack has won every domestic honour in just four short years in the league having amassed nine trophies in total; 1 League of Ireland title, 1 League of Ireland Cup, 1 President’s Cup, 2 Setanta Sports Cups, 3 Leinster Senior Cups and 1 FAI Cup.

Although he’s won it all, McCormack is still hungry for more; “There’s still plenty more to be won and I hope I can add more trophies and medals to my cabinet next season”, he said, in an exclusive interview with Extratime.ie. Although he admits that he could never have envisaged such success prior to his arrival in the League of Ireland in 2011. “If you’d have told me that in four years I’d win nine trophies, I’d have snatched your hand off,” he remarked.

The Buckley Factor

When asked if he was tempted away from Inchicore, the Louth man reveals that his intention was always to stay at Richmond Park.

“I knew with a few months to go that Liam wanted me to stay and I knew myself that I was going to stay on with Pats.”

McCormack enjoys the style of play under Liam Buckley and notes that the manager places a significant amount of trust in the players he signs.

“Liam is a more laid-back manager than others I’ve played under previously; he trusts the players he signs to perform week in, week out in training and during matches.”

Standards Improving?

It is often debated among League of Ireland fans as to whether the standard of the league is improving or declining. McCormack agrees that this is a difficult question;

“Two or three teams have definitely improved, but on the other hand two or three others have declined, so it’s a difficult question to answer – the league certainly has gotten more competitive of recent years.”

The 24 year old is very complimentary towards some of the players he has played alongside during his time in the League of Ireland, singling out two of his current teammates for praise.

“Christy Fagan was brilliant for us this year also under the limelight and very highly underrated is Conan Byrne,” while also reserving a special mention for Gary Twigg.

“Twigg is one of the best finishers I've ever seen all he needs is half a sniff and it's in the net.”

One of McCormack’s biggest bugbears in the league at the present is the rate at which players change clubs, showing little or no loyalty to their employers.

“I hate when I chat to players of different clubs (during the season) and they ask if you have anything sorted for next season… it doesn’t make sense, it’s about time players are tied down to 2-3 year contracts and it's not a scramble at the cattle mart to get sorted.”
 

Harbouring Ambitions

Having served his apprenticeship at Manchester United and subsequently joined Serie B side Triestina, McCormack could be forgiven for lacking the desire to ply his trade abroad again, but is coy when asked about his future ambitions.

“I would like to have another crack of course but I am enjoying my time back living and playing at home - I’ve still plenty of years left so see what the future brings.”