Dunne looking to unleash the Rebel animal

Cork City manager Tommy Dunne has said that he feels his side is like a ‘different animal’ this season.

Speaking directly after City’s 2-1 win over Bohemians on Friday evening, he was in a positive mood, hopeful and expectant of a good season on Leeside.

“We look like a different animal this year. I think physically everybody is good, we’re all hungry, there’s a bit more strength and depth I’d like to think in the group as well.

“Last year was a good learning curve for everybody. I didn’t think we were ready for the start of the season for various different reasons – the number of bodies who were fit, and some of our players hadn’t experienced Premier Division football before.

“As I say it was a learning curve, but this year I feel we’ll be better equipped to have a go at the division – but there’s a lot of good teams out there. As I said already, every team is going to be a really good game, and it will be no different when we go to Bray on Tuesday night.

“I think if you look at and the general quality of the teams in the league it’s really high, and I think the supporters who pay to go to the game are certainly getting value for their money.”

The win means that the Rebel Army have claimed four points from a possible six so far this season, and sit in the lofty position of fourth in the league table, level on points with Bohemians and Dundalk.

 “Well it’s the second game of the season, the first home game. I thought the players were absolutely fantastic tonight from start to finish. We played some really good football against a really good Bohs team, a young Bohs team.

“They’re a very young side but they play some really good football, and they’re marshalled fantastically well by the experienced Owen Heary at the back. We had to work really hard to get our three points tonight.

“I thought our play at times was really really good, we created some really good chances and we showed in the second half, even when we went to one down, that we’ve a bit of pace in the way we play, and we did really really well to get the three points tonight.”

Bohemians actually started the match the better of the two sides, and went in at half time with a 1-0 lead to protect. Dunne’s charges came out all guns blazing from the break however, and scored two quick fire goals to regain the lead.

“We went in and after conceding three or four minutes before half time but it wasn’t a case of cups of tea flying or anything like that, it was more just to be patient.

“We played some good stuff in the first half, and I said there’s no point panicking. People think we have to throw the kitchen sink at it, sound the trumpets and head off down the pitch like mad men, but we got back into the game and played some really good stuff.

“We were disciplined in the game itself, and we got our just rewards. We had some really good chances and good play, we could have even had a couple more.

“Danny Furlong hit the bar, and Daryl Horgan had one or two chances, Dean Delany pulled off one or two good saves, but overall I think the performance from start to finish was professional.”

Next up for City is a trip to the seaside to take on Bray Wanderers on Tuesday night. With the two games being in such close proximity to one another, will the Cork gaffer be forced into making a couple of changes?

“Yeah I think we might have one or two forced changes. I’m not sure Dan [Murray] can make it, and Hoggy [Neal Horgan] is feeling his knee a little bit tonight.

“We’ve got fellas who can come in – and if you want to play for the team, you’ve got to perform once you get into it. For us everybody wants to do well. It’s expected, and I’m absolutely delighted that’s expected.”