Season Preview 2016 - Cork City

Manager: John Caulfield

Stadium: Turners Cross

Players in: Stephen Dooley (Derry City), Sean Maguire (Dundalk), Kenny Browne (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Greg Bolger (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Eoghan O’Connell (Celtic) (Loan), Ian Turner (Limerick), Gearóid Morrissey (Cambridge United).

Players Out: John O’Flynn (Limerick), Billy Dennehy (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Darren Dennehy (St. Patrick’s Athletic), Rob Lehane (Cobh Ramblers), Liam Miller (Released), Kevin O’Brien (Released), Liam Kearney (Released), Ross Gaynor (Linfield), Dan Murray (Retired).

Extratime.ie Key Signing: Greg Bolger

The signing of the St. Patrick’s Athletic centre midfielder could prove pivotal to how well Cork City do this season as in the past few years they have been accused of not being creative enough when in possession yet this will not be the case with Bolger in the side. John Caulfield has big plans for Bolger in the season ahead, making him vice-captain within a few weeks of his arrival on Leeside.

The centre midfield slots of City’s 4-2-3-1 formation will be hard fought-for amongst the squad players when one considers the wealth of talent that will be at manager Caulfield’s disposal. Trying to pick three players to start from Gearóid Morrissey, Bolger, Colin Healy, Gary Buckley, Gavan Holohan and recent loan signing Eoghan O’Connell will be no easy task, but considering he has been made vice captain it is clear that Caulfield intends to build his team around the Wexford native.

The midfielder will not contribute a huge amount of goals from the centre of the field going by the fact that he has only scored four league goals in the past three seasons but he will make up for that by his leadership on the field. In pre-season so far many fans have been very pleased with what they have seen from the former Dundalk player and he should be a key man in City’s quest for a first league title since 2005.

Extratime.ie One to watch: Kevin O’Connor

The Curracloe native joined City last April having played previously for Waterford United in the First Division yet played a key part in numerous games over the course of last season.

The player signed as a relatively unknown individual has established himself firmly in John Caulfield’s squad in the left back role. The sole natural left footer in the Cork City defence who can also play in midfield will be expecting to see even more game time in the coming year following the departure of Ross Gaynor to Linfield.

The 20-year-old will hope to build on last season’s impressive figure of 21 appearances in the coming months ahead and is sure to play a key role for Cork City this season.

How they did last season:

League: 2^nd

FAI Cup: 2015 saw City reach the cup final in the Aviva but lost 1-0 to Dundalk on the day.

League Cup: City departed the League Cup at the quarter final stage losing to St. Patrick’s Athletic on penalties in Turner's Cross.

Europe: Europa League First Qualifying Round

Europe was disappointing for a Cork City side, returning to play their first Europe League/UEFA Cup games since 2008 when they went out to Fc Haka of Finland, and their first under fan ownership.

They started off with a 1-1 draw at home to KR Reykjavik, and in the away leg in Iceland they had the perfect start going one up through Mark O’Sullivan and also benefitted from the Icelandic side being reduced to ten men. City couldn’t finish the job hpwever and the home side scored two goals to progress to play Rosenberg of Norway in the following round.

This season City will be hoping to go one step further in their European travels as they will have learned hugely from last season’s disappointment and the squad will all be hoping to pit their talents against Europe’s best.

What to expect this season:

Cork City will be hoping to go one step further than the previous two years in the league and finish first, but that will be no easy task with Dundalk and St. Patrick’s Athletic strengthening their sides. Last season the club had a disappointing exit from Europe in Iceland and they will hope for progress on that front but it is the bread and butter of the league that will have most fans attention and people will want to see City win the league considering their near misses.

The team in general looks to have strengthened on last season going by the return of Gearóid Morrissey and Ian Turner to the squad while the signings of Seán Maguire, Greg Bolger and Stephen Dooley indicate a change in average age for a Cork City team that was mentioned as old by many commentators last season.

Despite the many signings, City aren't expected to use any new formations this season, going on the pre-season games, but one thing is for certain: the Leesiders will be there or there about come the end of October in a range of competitions.

Title odds: 4/1

First game: Bohemians (Turner's Cross), 4^th March, 7.45pm.