Five Cork City players included in First Division Team of the Year 

Five Cork City players have been named in the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division Team of the Year, with Tim Clancy the designated manager.

Goalkeeper Brady Wade, defenders Charlie Lyon's and Evan McLaughlin, and midfielders Greg Bolger and Cathal O'Sullivan are in the XI which was announced on Tuesday morning.

This follows a memorable year that saw City win the League of Ireland First Division title and promotion back to the highest level of the Irish football pyramid.

The Rebel Army were relentless, with 78 points collected from 36 games. City also scored 64 goals and conceded just 23 times under Clancy, who was installed as manager last winter.

City led the pack from the very start, and they clinched the league title with a victory over UCD at the beginning of September with six games spare.

They Rebel Army were favourites for the title, and they responded to that tag with 11 wins and six draws in their first 17 games.

A key part of this was the presence of Wade in goal as the shot-stopper recorded 11 clean-sheets during that period.

This put the club into a commanding position in the race for the title, and the team finished the year 22 points clear of a UCD side sitting in second place.

Another crucial component in the team was the presence of Lyons and McLaughlin the backline.

Lyons moved to Cork City from Cobh Ramblers last year, and he made 33 league appearances in 2024, scoring 5 goals.

McLaughlin joined from Derry City last term, and he got five goals in 34 games.

This was Bolger's first year back at Turner's Cross after spells with Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers; and he was rewarded for his work with a place in the Team of the Year.

The midfielder, who helped the club win the league and cup double in 2017, anchored the play from his position in the middle of the park.

O'Sullivan stood beside the veteran in midfield, and the teenager's season started with a defeat to Wilton United in the Munster Senior Cup.

The went on to play 28 times in the League of Ireland First Division and score seven times, with two assists also recorded during that run.

The playmaker was one of a bunch of U20s selected for the tie in Mayfield, and he used the start to make a case to Clancy and his coaching staff.

The club are looking to keep this cohort together, with Clancy agreeing a new two-year contract at the end of September. That was followed by Lyons and Bolger signing new deals at the end of October.

One player that won't be at Turner's Cross in the new year is Wade as the club announced the goalkeeper will be departing shortly after the conclusion to the 2024 season.