Cork City manager Ger Nash believes his players are up for the fight and the challenge

After watching his Cork City side earn their first clean sheet of the season in a goalless draw against St Patrick’s Athletic at Turner’s Cross on Friday night, manager Ger Nash struck a defiant and optimistic tone about the club’s relegation battle and the progress being made.

“It was a tough game,” Nash began. 

“I felt on the balance of play—and we had a really big chance at the end of the first half—I felt that if a team was going to win it in the second half, it was going to be us. 

"So, I think we were absolutely well deserved for at least a point, and I'm delighted for the effort that the players have shown across the last two games.” 

It may have only been a draw, but given the performance and commitment shown, the result marked tangible progress from the heavy loss to Shamrock Rovers the previous week.

“We know we need to win games,” Nash acknowledged.

“But it's a starting point. Getting the clean sheet is huge, and I think that the fans that came here tonight saw a team that were really passionate and really cared about playing for this football club. 

"That matters. They want to see fight, and they want to see players who understand the situation and are willing to dig deep. 

"I think they got that tonight. The response from the players was positive and they earned the supporters’ applause.” 

The best opportunity of the match fell to on-loan forward Kitt Nelson, who blazed over from close range before the break after terrific pressing by Seani Maguire. Nash, however, backed the teenager to come good.

“It was a great chance in the first half, and Kitt Nelson is a really good footballer. 

"We’re really pleased he just agreed to extend his loan today until the end of the season. Seani did great. 

"It worked off our press, which we were really pleased with. Then it's a chance, but that's football—that's what happens. 

"Kitt will score plenty of goals. He is a really good player, and he’s learning all the time.” 

City's home form has drawn frustration from fans in recent weeks, with boos audible at full-time in some games. 

But Nash insists performances are trending upwards—even if the results haven't fully caught up yet.

“We’ve had three out of four home games,” he said. 

“We had Shels here. We’ve had Drogheda. We’ve had Pats. 

"And I think in all games, we feel we should have got more points from them. We haven’t got what we’ve deserved at times, but we’re building. "That belief is slowly coming back into the group.

”From where we were last Friday night, this is a huge improvement. I'm pleased for the players, pleased for the staff, because everyone has put a lot of work into it. 

"There’s a lot going on behind the scenes—extra video sessions, analysis, recovery. They’re giving everything.” 

As City continue to try to pull away from the bottom of the Premier Division, Nash remains focused on his core message: block out the noise and look within.

“We need to focus on us. This football club needs to focus on us—on who we want to be and what we are going to do. 

"We have to have a plan for us.

“At the moment, our plan is fighting. That is the first thing that we have to do. But we also have to look ahead. 

"We have to control what we can control, and that’s our energy, our attitude, our application. I think the players are starting to buy into that. 

"We need to be relentless in our work.” 

When discussing his own mindset, Nash’s response was clear.

"I'm up for the fight and the challenge, and my staff are. My staff have come to the club and want to be here. The players are fighting. 

"I think you’ve seen that in the last couple of performances. We are ready to go. We are ready to fight—and that's exactly what we will do."