Tim Clancy: Cork City young guns like Jayden Umeh and Harvey Skieters earning their game time

AFTER seeing his side win a difficult game away to Finn Harps, Cork City manager Tim Clancy was particularly pleased with the performance in the second half in Ballybofey. 

The difficult playing surface in Finn Park meant that the game was not always enjoyable to watch. However, after scoring four goals from set-pieces against Longford Town last weekend, City once again showed their strengths at dead balls, when Sean Murray’s wonderful header from Greg Bolger’s corner gave them the lead. 

The victory was sealed by 16-year-old Jaden Umeh, who received a lot of praise from his manager.

"It was a very scrappy first half. It probably wasn’t a pretty game to watch. I’d describe the second half as a real professional performance from the lads. 

"For the corner-kick, we noticed that they were leaving players up the pitch. That they were vulnerable if you go short or on the edge of the box, and we worked one for Muzz, who got us ahead, and Jaden obviously came on and had a big impact. 

"He won the corner. For his own goal, he took a gamble which led to the mistake from the defender, and he went in, and it was a brilliant finish for such a young kid."

With City 2-0 up in the game, Harvey Skieters, who has impressed with the club’s U20 side, came on to make his first-team debut. Having placed his trust in a number of City academy players this campaign, Clancy was quick to highlight that Skieters appearance was on merit and not purely a chance to give another youngster game-time. 

The City boss believes that the next generation are getting their rewards for the work and effort they are putting in at the club.

"We spoke in the dressing room there that it was not just a token gesture to give lads appearances. Harvey has been scoring goals for the U20s. He has been in training with us, and when he has come in and trained, he has really impressed. 

"I thought he was excellent for the 10 or 15 minutes he was on. It’s what we spoke about from when I came into the club, that the U20s is an extension of the first team. If lads do well, you have to reward them. 

Harvey certainly deserved his appearance today." 

City will have their fourth successive away game next weekend when they take on Kerry before returning to Turners Cross for the first time in just over a month when they face Wexford on Bank Holiday Monday. 

Clancy expects another tough away game as he believes Kerry are better than what their points tally would suggest. It will be the first-ever visit to Mounthawk Park for the Rebel Army. 

HECTIC

The City boss is looking forward to the club’s upcoming busy schedule and cannot wait to be back at Turner's Cross.

“It will be a very tough game. They have been very good in the last six or seven games. They probably should have more points. They drew quite a lot. I think they won one and drew five maybe, and they lost last week. It’s going to be a very difficult game but it’s not that far to travel though. 

"We have a big week with the games Friday, Monday, then Friday again. But we can’t wait to get out onto the pitch again next week to try to get three points and then that will be followed by the return to our home ground which will be really exciting."