Cork City academy keeps producing top talent as David Dunne makes debut at 15

Cork City manager Tim Clancy admitted a draw was a fair result after his side failed to beat Treaty United for the fourth time this season. 

City were behind early in the game after a sloppy start from the champions. They struggled to find any sort of rhythm and could have been further behind in the opening 45 minutes. However, the Rebel Army were much better in the second period and while Cian Coleman hit a wonder goal, former City goalkeeper Corey Chambers was inspired for the Limerick side.

"We didn’t start the game very well, you got to hand that to Treaty as well. 

I thought they were good, but again it’s been very frustrating for us because we know they are very dangerous on the counter-attack. 

"They are aggressive with nicking balls back in the middle of the pitch and then they spring it into wide areas. They did that very well again tonight but we didn’t start the game very well and Lee Lynch got a goal after two minutes with a brilliant strike. He gave us a warning just moments before when Brad Wade made a good save, and then we were behind in the game. 

"I thought we moved the ball too slow in the first half, and it was a little bit sloppy. So disappointed in the first half but in the second half, I thought we were a lot better." 

Coleman's fantastic finish maintained his team’s unbeaten home record.

“I thought the delivery from Evan McLaughlin and Greg Bolger in the second half was very good, and Cian has met one on the volley and it is a terrific strike. Corey has had to make three or four unbelievable saves again against us but I think the draw is probably the fair result, and it was still good to keep the unbeaten home record going." 

15 years old! 🤯

Congratulations, David Dunne 👏

A lovely moment for the #CCFCAcademy man at Turner’s Cross. #CCFC84 || #LOI pic.twitter.com/mhlGK8Nj7B

— Cork City FC (@CorkCityFC) October 4, 2024

15-year-old David Dunne became the second youngest-ever City player, behind now Benfica-based Jaden Umeh.

"This club has an academy that is rolling out young players that are extremely talented. 

David is probably the next one and young Ben Dumigan as well is doing fairly well. 

"David has been in training with us the last couple of weeks. He’s looked lively and he is a talent. Now we have had a few games at the end of the season to give them a taste of what first-team football is, and I think Jaden obviously responded well to first-team football at the start of the season and got a move to Benfica. 

EXCELLENT

"Cathal O’Sullivan has been excellent, Matty Kieran has been excellent, Healers [Arran Healy] has been excellent, so a lot of our young lads have been really good, and David is probably the next one."

City face Athlone Town away from home on Friday in their penultimate game before hosting Wexford, on a night when they will be presented the First Division trophy. They will be using those games to give fringe players an opportunity as well as building momentum for next season.

“It will be a bit of both. You can do both. It will be lads getting game time again but it is also about trying to win as well, so we want to remain unbeaten. 

"We have lost one game this season which was away to Athlone, a game we shouldn’t have lost and that was a sore one, so we will try to finish the season now with only one defeat and that continues next week against Athlone.”