City business is Dunne and dusted

Cork City boss Tommy Dunne has confirmed that his transfer business ahead of the new season has been completed with the addition of Tadhg Purcell on loan.

Former Shamrock Rovers striker Purcell will link up with his new teammates on Monday but Dunne says that he won’t be delving back into the market ahead of next week’s transfer deadline.

Speaking after this afternoon’s 2-2 draw with Limerick at Bishopstown, the Dubliner said: “I think that’s us budgetary wise, there won’t be any more coming in. Although we’re a small group I don’t think we’re bad in terms of the quality.”

City play local side Rockmount in their rearranged Munster Senior Cup quarter-final at Whitechurch on Tuesday night, where Dunne will give a lot of his U19 squad a run-out, while Purcell won’t be registered in time.

“I’m going to make a few changes, it’ll mainly be U19s because I don’t want to be playing many games over such a short space of time, especially when I’m just trying to get the lads moving.

“There are five or six with us all the time but there’s been a few more coming in and out too. There are some really good lads there and a good few of them will hopefully come through.

“Tadhg’s not eligible to play because there’s 14 days to register but I wouldn’t have played him anyway. He’s due in Monday and he will train either Monday or maybe he Wednesday. He’s just getting rid of a few bits and pieces in England and he’ll be over then.”

Dunne did confirm that the club have another friendly lined-up against SD Galway at Turner’s Cross next Saturday, with 5pm a likely kick-off time. “It looks like we’ll play SD Galway in Turner’s Cross next Saturday at 5pm. At the moment, that’s what we have pencilled in. The pitch here (Bishopstown) is very heavy and it’s not in great condition really.”

And while he is likely to play his strongest available team in their last warm-up before facing UCD in their inaugural league game at Belfield on Friday week, the manager added that he has yet to settle on who will partner captain Dan Murray at the heart of the defence.

“I haven’t settled on it really just yet, I’ll just wait and see. We have five that can play centre-half but Stephen Mulcahy won’t be ready until the summer anyway. Kevin Murray is still recovering from his operation so it’ll take him a bit of time.”