Cork City boss Tim Clancy happy with their position and the players, as the first quarter of the season ends

WITH a quarter of the season complete, and Cork City sitting top of the First Division, City boss Tim Clancy is very satisfied with how his team have conducted themselves so far this season. 

After City recorded their biggest win this campaign with a 3-0 victory over Cork rivals Cobh Ramblers on Friday night, Clancy expressed his delight with his players.

“I’m happy with the result, it’s the most important thing," Clancy said.

"It's a quarter done now, and we are sitting top of the league, so I’m pleased. With the first round of fixtures done, I’m absolutely thrilled with how the players have applied themselves. 

"How they are adapting in game situations. They have had a few disappointing moments in the season so far but I’m delighted with them.

“It’s a good result for us. We got three goals tonight. 

"We kept another clean sheet, which is massive for us and I think we could have, without being harsh on Cobh, could have had a few more.

“The pleasing thing was that on Monday, we had a pretty good first half against Wexford but a poor second-half, and we spoke about it during the week, that we wanted to see a reaction from Monday, and we got that. 

"We were good in the first half and I thought we were good as well in the second-half. 

"We controlled the game, and we looked a threat going forward, and Evan (McLaughlin) got his goal to make it three nil and that was good.” City have come under some scrutiny for some of their performances this season but Clancy defended his side’s campaign to date.

“It’s not easy to start games really well, and continue to play well for ninety minutes. 

"There has to be a level of respect for the opposition. There seems to be a perception that we have a divine right to play well for ninety minutes, irrespective of what the opposition do. 

"That’s not the case. You have got a lot of good managers and good players in this league, and we have to be respectful, which we are inhouse ourselves, but I think sometimes people think we should go out and play well for ninety minutes and that's not the case. 

"At every level in football, that rarely happens. 

"You might get a Man City, or Barcelona back in the day, that can dominate the ball and keep it and not give opposition spells in the game, but there are always going to be those spells where clubs are going to do well against you and teams are going to have chances. 

"It’s about limited opportunities and I think we have restricted shots on our goal, and again conceding only two goals in the first-quarter of the season is brilliant for us.” 

Having played every team in the league, Clancy has been impressed by several sides but feels it’s about City focusing on themselves and not worrying about others for the remainder of the campaign.

“I think there are a few teams. I think UCD here (Turner's Cross) were excellent against us, and they are always fit, full of energy and play good football as well. 

"Obviously, you look at Finn Harps, who have had a very good start to the season as well. 

"Wexford and Treaty are there as well so there are a lot of teams that have done well. At the end of the day, we have to win as many games as possible and try not to worry about other teams. 

"Obviously, be very respectful of the opposition we are playing against. 

"You’ve seen there are spells where we have been very good in games and others where we have had to really dig in to frustrate other teams and stop them from scoring, but I would expect the season is going to be right to the wire with multiple teams at the top of the league."