Turner - Cork's new set-piece maestro?

One of the biggest things Cork City fans will have taken from Monday night’s Setanta Cup victory over Cliftonville will have undoubtedly been the stellar performance of Ian Turner. The Cork-born winger was outstanding, and managed to bag himself a brace – one incredible dipping free-kick, and one well taken penalty. But does he see himself as the Rebel Army’s new set-piece maestro?

“We’ve been working on them [free-kicks] in training, myself, Colin Healy, Danny Murphy, Gearoid [Morrissey] and a few others we’ve been practicing it a lot.

“That’s the first free kick I’ve ever scored in the game, so hopefully I’ll crack on from there. I’m not too sure that I meant to hit it [the penalty] that high, [Manager Tommy Dunne walks by and remarks that he shouldn’t have been taking it in the first place] but I put it in the net and that’s all that really matters!

“I’ve been practicing them over pre-season. To be fair Davin [O’Neill, currently at Cobh Ramblers] was on them last year, so it was a case of first come, first serve this season. I just grabbed hold of the ball and took it.”

Another positive aspect of their performance was the phenomenal fitness levels of the team. City more than matched their Northern visitors on that front, despite being just in pre-season compare to Cliftonville, who are in the middle of their league campaign. Did he find the training valuable?

“I think so, and even 90 minutes will stand to us. In fairness we’ve done an awful lot of training, and I think that everyone knows what they want this year. 

“It’s important first and foremost to get your fitness right, because once you’re fitness is right the rest will fall into place. I think last year pre-season didn’t really go to plan. We played 90 minutes but we weren’t really that competitive, so to get a good competitive game against a good team will only stand to us.

“Considering some of us had only played 45 minutes before tonight, to get the full 90 minutes was good, and obviously to win 4-0 to top it all off was excellent. We just have to keep going now in pre-season, carry on from there, and really see where it takes us.”

When quizzed about Monday night, and the possibility of Cliftonville fielding a stronger XI in the return leg in Belfast, Turner doesn’t seem overly concerned.

“We can only beat what’s put in front of us, so I think we’ll only worry about ourselves and not them.”

The full-back-cum-wide-man also revealed just how please he was that Cobh Ramblers were back in the First Division.

“It’s brilliant, I really am delighted. I know so many people down there, and I think it’s brilliant for Cobh and for Cork and for the fans, because a lot of people go to games here and there, including a lot of us.”

But will he be on free-kick duty on Friday night, when City take on their neighbours in a friendly at St. Colman’s Park?

“Hopefully. And a penalty!”