Cork City dream team: Making the case for club's meanest defenders

Joining him in the back four for the 3-2 win over Shelbourne that clinched the title were Cormac Cotter, Declan Daly and Fergus O’Donoghue, but Paul Bannon — chosen at centre-forward with John Caulfield on the bench — would also warrant consideration as a centre-back.

The aforementioned Napier had two stints with City, bisected by a spell with Dundalk, with whom he won the league in 1995.

He is the only outfield player to have featured in two title-winning seasons and the back four that enjoyed such a wonderful start to 2017 – Steven Beattie, Bennett, Ryan Delaney (below) and Kevin O’Connor — was another outstanding foursome.

If he had stayed, he would have a much stronger case, but given the defensive riches available to City over the years, he misses out on the shortlist.
