Season Preview: Cork City

Head Coach: Danny Murphy

Stadium: Turner’s Cross

In: Orlaith O’Mahony (Shamrock Rovers), Colleen Kennedy (Hafnarfjordur), Aoife Robinson (Bohemians).

Out: Danielle Burke, Kelly Leahy, Lauren Singleton, Faye Ahern, Abby McCarthy (all free), Nadine Seward (DLR Waves), Fiana Bradley (Treaty United)

Re-signed: Hannah Walsh, Clodagh Fitzgerald, Jesse Mendez, Heidi Mackin, Shaunagh McCarthy, Ciara McNamara, Alix Mendez, Ellie O’Brien, Eva Mangan, Aoibhin Donnelly, Erin O’Brien, Heidi O’Sullivan, Niamh Cotter, Kiera Sena, Chloe Atkinson, Christina Dring, Laura Shine.

extratime.com Key Player: Eva Mangan

For the past two seasons Mangan has been lighting up the Cork City midfield with the kind of ability that defies her age and experience. Although still only 19, she captains the current City side and controls the midfield with natural confidence.

2022 was a standout year for her, and despite playing in a side that struggled at the foot of the table, she was widely acknowledged as one of the most impressive players in the league.

Last year was an even more difficult one for the Rebels and Mangan found it a little bit more difficult to shine. But she remains the beating heart of this City team and Danny Murphy will be hoping she can summon the stamina to impose herself on what will likely be another tough campaign.

extratime.com One to watch: Kiera Sena

Sena came through the underage teams at Cork City and came to wider attention during 2023 when she began to get game time with Danny Murphy’s senior side.

She made her senior debut against Wexford Youths at Turner’s Cross towards the end of May, and was soon a trusted member of the squad, making 13 appearances in all competitions.

In a season that offered notably few high-points, she was part of a wider contingent of very young players who impressed for the seniors, including Fiana Bradley (now gone to Treaty United), Chloe Atkinson and Erin O’Brien.

But even among that group, Sena stood out. As well as strength, skill and confidence, she has a matchday presence that can’t be coached. It’s just there. And 2024 will be an important year for the her, hopefully providing a stage for her to develop into the powerful player she promises to be.

What to expect in 2024:

It’s difficult to be optimistic for Cork City this season. There are some positive prospects ahead of the new campaign, but the question is whether these will prove truly significant.

There are players like Mangan and Sena, as mentioned above, who have undoubted quality. And it would be unfair to disregard impressive seasons from the likes of Alix Mendez, Shaunagh McCarthy, Ellie O’Brien and Christina Dring.

But the league table doesn’t lie, and City finished last of eleven teams, winning just once and recording a goal difference of -43. Where is the change going to come from in 2024?

Cork have made a few interesting signings, the most impressive being Orlaith O’Mahony who comes in from Shamrock Rovers. O’Mahony played well in a fiercely competitive midfield lats year and may well be the kind of player who take some of the pressure off Eva Mangan, allowing a more positive dynamic in the centre of the team.

City have also landed striker Colleen Kennedy, about whom there are excited whispers from those in the know. And the signing of former Bohemians striker Aoife Robinson does indicate that Danny Murphy knows City have to significantly increase their goal threat.

And who knows, if the Rebels can start scoring goals, they may just unlock the latent promise that was briefly visible during their All-Island Cup campaign of 2023. City won more games in that short summer competition (3) than they did in the entire rest of the season (2).

With Treaty United undergoing a transformation under the stewardship of Ciara McCormack, and Sligo Rovers looking re-energised under new boss Tommy Hewitt, City will have to pull something out of the hat just to stay with their fellow strugglers from last season.

And it would be absolutely marvellous, for the city and for the league, if they could do just that.

First Game: Cork City v Peamount United - Sat 9th March  (5pm)

Two Aviva Stadium dates confirmed for the Girls in Green Euro qualifier group games https://t.co/ENdBYQpzdapic.twitter.com/1Gt6edUaGD

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) March 7, 2024