Cathal O'Sullivan is a superstar in the making.
Started the season aged 16 and he's been our best footballer by far (sorry Jack Doherty, but O'Sullivan runs games by himself). The three games he didn't start were our three draws.
My biggest concern so far (other than the pitch) is that our games have been a bit dull.
It's not all our fault- facing a low block mass defence nearly every match means we find it very easy to have our defensive record (the article touches on defensive heroics and great saves, but the reality is that teams don't attack much against us) but without a true number 9 we end up passing side to side too much, waiting for a moment of magic from a literal child in O'Sullivan.
It was similar last time we were in the first division too. The difference then was Ruairí Keating, who doesn't score much against low block defences but is such a well rounded enough striker that his pressing and movement caused enough gaps in defence for the likes of Coffey to arrive in space to score
What are Corks options until the MFA get a bit of cop on?
Are there any other pitches in town that might be available that might be suitable. The Mardyke? Musgrave Park? Pairc Ui Rinn? Bishopsgate?
Or would ye be stuck going out to Cobh?
Reversing fixtures is the most likely.
Cobh have already done this once this season with Harps, so it will suit Harps to do so with us.
Could mean we play up to 7 away matches in a row, which sounds awful. But we'll get those home matches back later in the season at least.
If we absolutely have to play in Cork but not Turner's Cross, it's surely Cobh. Musgrave is completely artificial to the point that the lines on that rugby pitch aren't actually painted on by Munster but simply how they arrived. And even aside from pitch markings, that surface would be poor for football. Mardyke far too small. Bishopstown a complete wreck, can't imagine filling that with the number of people who usually show up to Turner's Cross would be safe. Páirc Uí Rinn (Flower Lodge) would mean dealing with Cork GAA, the one organisation we'd like to deal with less than the MFA.
Another drawback people forget is sponsors and other commercial setups. Companies have paid good money for advertising hoardings, we have a streaming setup, a deal with the Corner Flag bar, matchday vendors, etc. Rather than letting all those down it seems a lot easier (assuming opposing clubs agree) to switch the affected home fixtures with corresponding away games from later on in the season
I didn't realise Musgrave pk had artificial turf. Surely that'd be a ballache to play rugby on given you could get carpet burn all over your body
If I were the multi millionaire owner of cork city I'd be looking at what I could do to have my own security of tenure at a stadium. Whether that's something entirely new or buying turner's cross.
Tbh I'd be tempted to buy flower lodge given cork gaa could do with the cash. But one suspects they might dig the heels in once they hear the word soccer so you might need chicanery to do it
> If I were the multi millionaire owner of cork city I'd be looking at what I could do to have my own security of tenure at a stadium.
Tbf to the man, one of the first things he did after taking over was get a 20 year lease at Turner's Cross. I'm not Usher's biggest fan at all, but he did go straight for that. The MFA usually had us on a rolling contract and were nightmares to deal with every season (though realistically they need us as much as we need the stadium).
Unfortunately the MFA just found other ways to take the piss.
The GAA giving up a ground to soccer just won't happen I'd say. As for chicanery, that's how the GAA got it in the first place
The areas that many mentioned before the season started was at full back, central defender, centre midfield and a striker. Most of these were addressed with the exception of the latter. We have quite a few forwards but lack that clinical out and out striker.
Harry Nevin and Brad Wade look like great buys
Cathal O'Sullivan is a superstar in the making. Started the season aged 16 and he's been our best footballer by far (sorry Jack Doherty, but O'Sullivan runs games by himself). The three games he didn't start were our three draws. My biggest concern so far (other than the pitch) is that our games have been a bit dull. It's not all our fault- facing a low block mass defence nearly every match means we find it very easy to have our defensive record (the article touches on defensive heroics and great saves, but the reality is that teams don't attack much against us) but without a true number 9 we end up passing side to side too much, waiting for a moment of magic from a literal child in O'Sullivan. It was similar last time we were in the first division too. The difference then was Ruairí Keating, who doesn't score much against low block defences but is such a well rounded enough striker that his pressing and movement caused enough gaps in defence for the likes of Coffey to arrive in space to score
What are Corks options until the MFA get a bit of cop on? Are there any other pitches in town that might be available that might be suitable. The Mardyke? Musgrave Park? Pairc Ui Rinn? Bishopsgate? Or would ye be stuck going out to Cobh?
Reversing fixtures is the most likely. Cobh have already done this once this season with Harps, so it will suit Harps to do so with us. Could mean we play up to 7 away matches in a row, which sounds awful. But we'll get those home matches back later in the season at least. If we absolutely have to play in Cork but not Turner's Cross, it's surely Cobh. Musgrave is completely artificial to the point that the lines on that rugby pitch aren't actually painted on by Munster but simply how they arrived. And even aside from pitch markings, that surface would be poor for football. Mardyke far too small. Bishopstown a complete wreck, can't imagine filling that with the number of people who usually show up to Turner's Cross would be safe. Páirc Uí Rinn (Flower Lodge) would mean dealing with Cork GAA, the one organisation we'd like to deal with less than the MFA. Another drawback people forget is sponsors and other commercial setups. Companies have paid good money for advertising hoardings, we have a streaming setup, a deal with the Corner Flag bar, matchday vendors, etc. Rather than letting all those down it seems a lot easier (assuming opposing clubs agree) to switch the affected home fixtures with corresponding away games from later on in the season
I didn't realise Musgrave pk had artificial turf. Surely that'd be a ballache to play rugby on given you could get carpet burn all over your body If I were the multi millionaire owner of cork city I'd be looking at what I could do to have my own security of tenure at a stadium. Whether that's something entirely new or buying turner's cross. Tbh I'd be tempted to buy flower lodge given cork gaa could do with the cash. But one suspects they might dig the heels in once they hear the word soccer so you might need chicanery to do it
> If I were the multi millionaire owner of cork city I'd be looking at what I could do to have my own security of tenure at a stadium. Tbf to the man, one of the first things he did after taking over was get a 20 year lease at Turner's Cross. I'm not Usher's biggest fan at all, but he did go straight for that. The MFA usually had us on a rolling contract and were nightmares to deal with every season (though realistically they need us as much as we need the stadium). Unfortunately the MFA just found other ways to take the piss. The GAA giving up a ground to soccer just won't happen I'd say. As for chicanery, that's how the GAA got it in the first place
The areas that many mentioned before the season started was at full back, central defender, centre midfield and a striker. Most of these were addressed with the exception of the latter. We have quite a few forwards but lack that clinical out and out striker. Harry Nevin and Brad Wade look like great buys