This 2019 the Rebel Army is ready to rock the living foundations of the League of Ireland. For John Caulfield the Leesiders manager he is looking forward to a prolific campaign. Still in his mind is the not so memorable end his squad had in the end of the 2018 campaign.
With a strong dominance in the beginning, they had what looked like another successful start in last campaign; in the end, these endured a sort of meltdown and surrendered the top, to a determined and excellent run put on by Dundalk FC. As the pressure, fatigue was among the factors that in the end led Cork City to their debacle.
However, for manager John Caulfield is business as usual and with a mission to make a total statement with his Rebel Army towards the league top. In the final months, the Rebel Army saw how they were leapfrog out of first place costing them the chance for a repeat as league champions.
With a number of upsets that the City squad endured in the last months of league competition, in the end the Leesiders could not display a successful defense of its title.
For Cork City having an amazing campaign in 2017, after they dominated the league and winning it all. As the year of the treble for the Leesiders they won the league title, FAI and the Munster Cup.
In addition on the start of the 2018 campaign were they defeated Dundalk in the Presidents Cup, many thought of another amazing campaign in the works and being the overall favorites for a repeat of the league title.
The loss in 2017 of Sean Maguire and Kevin O’ Connor moving on to English side Preston North End in the English League Championship. For manager John Caulfield, nothing is impossible or difficult when Kieran Sadlier became is top scorer with 24 goals.
This upcoming campaign the Leesiders have seen a number of notable and experienced players not making a return to Turners Cross. Some of these players leaving in search of new horizons were Steven Beattie-USL side Chattanooga Red Wolves, Kieran Sadlier- Doncaster Rovers, Damien Delaney- Waterford, Barry McNamee and Peter Cherrie- Derry City, and John Dunleavy- Sligo Rovers.
Cork City re- signed the likes of John Kavanagh and Shane Griffin, the signing of academy prospect Ciaran Bargary along with new faces coming down south. With newcomers James Tilley on loan (Brighton Hove & Albion), Darragh Rainingford (Pike Rovers), Tadgh Ryan (Galway United), Daire O’ Connor (UCD), Garry Comerford (Waterford) and Dan Casey (Bohemians).
Still for manager John Caulfield, many improvements are in need if his side is to perform like that championship squad of 2017. I mean to see this squad perform with their new blood and young talent this squad has acquired in the preseason.
To mend what last campaign saw in their game decline is the following. One these are in need of ball retention as well seeing their defensive game to step up. Among of the positives was the counter attack with Mc Namee and Sadlier not with the club anymore.
For manager John Caulfield as previously mentioned, he is upon a challenging task of important moves in his game tactics. With Caulfield wisdom and youth newcomers, I believe this squad can make a run for the league title.
To conclude I will not disqualified this side to a second place finish and being a total competitor once again. As competition will increase with Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and Waterford the outlook for City looks tough but not impossible.
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