Richie Holland urges Cork City fans to get behind team against Derry and Shamrock Rovers

RICHIE Holland was pleased by the way his side managed the game against UCD on Sunday. 

Cork City scored two late goals in the first half through Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh and Ruairi Keating and Holland felt his side navigated the second-half expertly.

"Performance-wise it could have been better in possession at times but it's about getting that winning feeling back in the group again. I suppose that that's all we talked about. We've played better in previous games and lost, so for us to manage the game in the second half was a big positive.

"I felt for that little period at the end of the first half, we actually got a little bit of control in possession. 

"We moved the ball that little bit quicker and you can see that obviously we're getting our more creative players on the ball higher up you know and it was great. The first goal we ended up getting Gordon Walker in on the side. 

"He probably should score himself but Joe was there to finish and Keats just shows again why he's up there in the goalscoring chart, it was a great finish as well. So yeah it was great to get the two-goal lead."

They still needed their keeper to make some important stops.

"Ollie Byrne has been great since he has come in. A few of the saves were good but I expected him to save the ones that he did. I expected UCD to play with that freedom in the second half being 2-0 down and coming out and trying to get back into the game, so just for us, it was managing the game properly and it's great for the group to keep a clean sheet. It's great for the whole club to get that winning feeling and now that we can push on." 

Despite grabbing only their second away victory this season, Holland feels City can improve in front of goal when they host Derry and Shamrock Rovers this Friday and Bank Holiday Monday.

“That's probably an issue here, especially in the last couple of weeks, is the final decision or execution of the final pass. Again we have created chances here and probably could have got one or two more but again I just go back to it, today it was just about winning and I'm delighted for the group and for the club that we've done that.

"I’m big on organisation in terms of when we're out of possession. The games against Pat's; we were unlucky in certain areas. The second goal especially in the semi-final of the cup was a great finish but I think the structure of the team has been a little bit better in terms of out of possession, obviously, there's still improvements to make. 

It's great to get Kevin Custovic back on the pitch today and to give lads minutes and stuff. Obviously, we're building towards the end of the season." 

City face Derry City on Friday and Holland is hoping to see another big crowd at Turner's Cross.

“I’d just encourage the fans to come out again like they always do. To give the lads the support. For us, it’s going to be a different game. 

"Derry are flying. It's just about preparing over the next couple of days and I'm getting the recovery right and pushing on then into the weekend and we will have a good look at Derry.

"We just need to get consistency in terms of the performances and be harder to beat. I just feel that in certain games that we've been conceding sloppy goals and we've been a little bit too easy to score against. We take positives from today and hopefully that can put us in good stead going forward.”