It was a dire season to say the least for Cork City. They’re can’t be much said other than negative things for finishing bottom of the table by 15 points.
Although the terrible season, Cork City had a shot at European Football, which they were not able to capitalize on as they finished FAI Cup Runners-Up to double winners Shamrock Rovers 2-0 in the Aviva Stadium.
Cork City had added fan favourites Sean Maguire and Ruairí Keating in the Summer transfer window growing optimism throughout the club and fan base. Manager at the time Tim Clancy added 8 new faces to his squad, using up all of his 4 loans and only adding one player from the LOI in Alex Nolan. Some of these names included Tein Troost from NAC Breda in the Eredivisie and Benny Cuoto, Conor Brann and Kitt Nelson from England. City had a successful pre season beating Premier Division outfits and SPFL side Motherwell. The Rebel Army were optimistic of staying up.
The first 10 games of the season was a catastrophe for the Leesiders. City amassed a mere 7 points from the first possible 30, half of these games resulted in losses, the most notable of these was a damning 4-1 loss suffered in Tallaght Stadium at the hands of the champions. Being victorious on only one occasion which came after a late Ruairí Keating goal in Turners’ Cross against Bohs, throughout this period wasn’t even the lowest point. Tim Clancy suffered injuries to his 3 star players of Sean Maguire, Ruairí Keating and Cathal O’Sullivan. This left Cork City without a striker for many weeks.
As much as injuries hampered City, other factors lead to their disastrous league campaign. The poor results kept coming and it was clear to see the issues in the City squad. Vast amounts of inexperience were on show among the squad, some games very clear through apps such as Sofascore just how much lower the average age of the City Starting XI was compared to their opponents. It looked as if City spent vast amounts of the budget on the 2 star strikers and not enough on the rest of the squad as it was clear to see in the team’s results and performances. The only real experience in the City squad was Keating, Maguire and veteran Greg Bolger who also spent time out with injury.
Alongside the subpar playing staff, the backroom was in taters for the first couple of months of the season. Apart from non-football and goalkeeping coaches in 2024 Tim Clancy had 2 people on his coaching staff, Richie Holland and Assistant Manager Jamie Hamill. In 2024, Holland left the club, the reason for his departure is still unknown publicly. This had Clancy down to himself and Hamill on the training ground, Tim already being at a disadvantage in training from the start of the 2025 season.
Things would go bad to worse for Tim Clancy as his right hand man would leave the club on the 21st of March for ‘family reasons’ to return to Scotland. Due to many factors such as a squad deemed not up to standard by large proportions of the fan base, nobody with him on the training ground or there to work with him, the recent opening of his new gym in Meath, the commute he was making from Meath most days to be with family, injuries and poor results. On the 9th of May following a 2-1 defeat at home to Derry City. Tim Clancy offered his resignation which Cork City accepted.
It only took the club 6 days to find their new man in Ger Nash who was taking his first job managing a senior outfit, having experience previously for Aston Villa’s U18s. As much as it looked like things couldn’t get worse for Cork City as they sat in 9th position, it could. The losses and poor performances continued and City dropped to 10th. It took Nash until August to find a league win vs Galway United at Turners’ Cross.
As Djenairo Daniels left the club after his deal that took him to July, a man who netted 5 goals in his short stint for the club, City looked in a bad shape. Rio Shipston and Tein Troost also left the club. The club made 6 signing during the Summer window, but very few had a positive impact, the most notable of these successes being centre back Rory Feely, but overall an incredibly disappointing window from a club in crisis.
On top of his win vs Galway, Nash only managed 1 more win in the league vs Waterford at home, an incredibly lackluster and disappointing league campaign. City closed their Premier Division campaign with 24 points with only 4 wins to their name. As a result of this City finished with a shocking 0.67 points per game. This is the worst points finish in the club’s history apart from their relegation in the cut short Covid season.
The thing that has made the season somewhat bearable for City fans is the FAI Cup run they’ve had beating Leicester Celtic, Munster rivals Waterford FC and Finn Harps on their way to the semi-final
This win would give them their toughest task yet of this cup campaign, St.Patrick’s Athletic, Turners’ Cross, Semi-Final, 6,000 sets of eyeballs, the RTÉ cameras and the chance of a spot in the FAI Cup Final. City started strong with Seani Maguire putting the side ahead with Evan McLaughlin, similar to the Quarter Final previous securing a brace again in quick succession to put City 3 up and Aviva bound.
Memorably at the start of the game the fan base held a protest, throwing rolls of toilet paper in protest of owner Dermot Usher. Many other shows of discontent have been shown across the season as the fan base have wanted change. This is Dermot Usher’s 2nd relegation in his 3 year reign and vast amounts of The Rebel Army faithful have seen enough and believe he is the reason for the club’s shocking seasons the last couple of years.
It was not to be for the Rebel Army on their big day out to Landsdowne Road as they lost 2-0, crowning Shamrock Rovers with their first double since 1987. Many wonder if Harry Nevin hadn’t received his marching orders how the game would’ve finished as City looked competitive until that point.
Although the club made the cup final, the season as a whole due to the anticipation and optimism in pre season and the standards of Cork City FC. I give this season a 2/10 rating.
My Player of the Season goes to Evan McLaughlin for his ability to show up when it has mattered and his outstanding performances when fit all year round.