Cork City chase elusive away win in final road trip of the season

Cork City make their final away trip of the season tomorrow evening, heading to the Showgrounds still in search of a first Premier Division win on the road.

There’s little left to play for in league terms – City’s relegation already confirmed – but this penultimate league fixture offers one of two more auditions before the FAI Cup final against Shamrock Rovers on November 9. For Ger Nash’s side, it’s a chance to show some spark, to carry what momentum they can into the Aviva, and get one positive result from an abysmal season away from home.

Seventeen times City have left Turner’s Cross this year, seventeen times they’ve come home empty-handed of a win. Just three draws to show for the effort, fourteen defeats to remind them why the table looks as it does. Their last league victory – 2-0 over Waterford – feels a lifetime ago.

Sligo Rovers, in contrast, still have something tangible to chase. The Bit O’Red are eighth on goal difference, level on 37 points with both Galway United and Waterford FC. Galway, who face Drogheda United tonight, have a game in hand.

Since the sides last met in July – a chaotic 3-2 collapse at Turner’s Cross after City had led 2-0 – Sligo’s home form has steadied. They’ve lost just once at the Showgrounds in that spell, a 2-0 defeat to Shelbourne in August, while drawing with Bohs and Drogheda and beating St Pat’s.

FOCUS

City’s focus, meanwhile, has long shifted toward November. Monday’s defeat to Drogheda was their first outing since relegation became official, the trip to Louth coming after a detour to the Aviva Stadium – a symbolic stop to familiarise players with where the season will end.

While David Odumosu wasn’t one of the five changes from the defeat to Shelbourne, his position in the team over the past couple of games has been part of assessing the group for the cup final, given Conor Brann had nailed down a consistent starting place.

The Cork City boss has spoken openly in recent weeks about the challenges of inheriting a sinking side and trying to imprint something lasting amidst the chaos.

“I think this season, since I've come to the club, is maybe unique in some respects, because when I picked my first team against Galway, we were bottom of the league,” Nash explained. “Straight away you're in a relegation fight, so, you also know that one – time isn’t on your side, and two – there's going to be a huge amount of transition in the squad.

“You try to think about what you can implement that's going to help in a short amount of time. It's not like you come in and you have a blank canvas, and you have two or three months in the off-season to plan it, and then a pre-season,” he said. “So we haven't had that, it's really difficult in those situations.

I still don’t look at my team and see the identity that I will see, when we've had a close season, a pre-season, and an opportunity to work with the players in a more consistent fashion, I would say.

“And also build the squad the way we want to build it. There're a lot of factors for that, that will help with what I want my team to look like.” 

Cork City’s season will be remembered for the struggle and disappointment, unless they can leave the Aviva with silverware. A good performance tomorrow would go a long way in fuelling that dream.