Rebels bring Behan back to Leeside

As reported on ExtraTime.ie this morning, Cork City have confirmed the re-signing of former player Denis Behan, who joins the club after spells with Hartlepool United and Limerick.

Behan, 29, had initially planned to join College Corinthians in the Munster Senior League after initial negotiations with City broke down. However, the Abbeyfeale man changed his mind and last night decided to pen a one-year deal at Turner’s Cross.

He joined the Leesiders in 2002 and spent seven years at the club, scoring 31 goals in 171 appearances, before moving to Hartlepool United. He had spent the last two years with newly-promoted Limerick but his contract was not renewed by the Shannonsiders.

 “I’m delighted to be back at the club. Obviously I am living in Cork and running a business here, so I was very keen to play in Cork,” Behan said after the signing was confirmed. “I had actually agreed to join College Corinthians, but then the opportunity to return to City came, and I would like to thank everyone at Corinthians for their understanding and for being so accommodating.

“I know most of the players, many of whom I played with, and am well aware of how things have been going at the club since I left to go to England, and have kept in touch with many of them.

“I came in to train with the squad for a week and I was impressed by the set-up. The training has been very good, and the facilities at UCC and in Mayfield are very impressive as well, so the set-up at the club was very attractive.

“The lads have looked really sharp in training, you can see that they have been following the programmes Tommy gave them and it has done them the world of good. I think a good start will do a lot to determine how the year will go for us and I hope that my experience can help.”

While City fans are unlikely to accept anything other than a tilt at Europe this season, Behan’s own personal aim will be to become more prolific on the goal front: “My aim this year is goals. With Cork City I was probably better known for scoring spectacular goals more than scoring a lot of goals, and that is something I have been working on a lot in the time since I left the club; getting into the right positions to get on the end of things.

“We have a good all-round team, but we need to get the goals in order to win games. Tommy has put together a good squad and I am very optimistic about how we will do this season.”

Dunne, meanwhile, spoke of his pleasure at managing to lure such an experienced player, and feels the striker has benefited from his time cross-channel: “I have worked with Denis before when I was assistant to Paul Doolin, and I felt that Denis that year was as good as anyone. He was in good shape physically and he was hungry to do well.

“Since he came in to train with us this pre-season, he has shown that same hunger and I get the impression with Denis that he feels he has unfinished business at Cork City.

“When he left for England he was still learning his trade, and I think the couple of years in England will have helped him on that front. He expressed a keen interest in coming back to the club; he has a bit of work to do to get himself right but he is prepared to put in the time and the effort and I think he will bring something different to the group.

“He brings physicality and if we get him fit and right, then I think he will have something to offer the team. I know a lot of the lads know him too and they will know how he plays, so he should be able to settle in quickly.

“He is still only 29, so there is an opportunity here for him and he wants to take it. We will give him every help we can to fulfil the potential that he has to do better than maybe he has over the last couple of years. He needs to work hard over next four to five weeks and I hope he will be ready for the start of the season.”