Important work now begins for Cork City after FAI Cup final defeat 

Everything always seems more depressing on a winter’s day, especially when a sports-mad city is faced with an offseason that seems it will go on forever.

For fans, this could mean another deep dive into the All-Ireland collapse by the Cork hurlers, or a further need to understand Cork City’s third relegation in five years.

In City's case there’s plenty of time to reflect, and mourn over the possibilities raised by an early season burst of form that involved four points from the first two games of last season.

Things slowly fell apart, with the situation well documented through various articles and podcasts. 

The cup final is at least easy to understand in that conversation as Ger Nash’s side were outplayed by the soon to be double champions, despite the game’s only goals coming in the second half.

Some will cite Harry Nevins’ red card as the moment things shifted, but that is ignoring the relative ease in Rovers’ play as Stephen Bradley’s side took the sting out of Cork City early on despite chances falling to the likes of Sean Maguire and Freddie Anderson.

The sending off doesn’t matter anymore. 

The result is in the record books and the only thing the club can change is their current way of operating as Nash and David Meyler plot a rebuild over the winter.

The cup final was just a boost following the aimless few weeks after relegation was confirmed, with the day out on Lansdowne Road almost like a trip to Disneyland before a serious surgery.

Nash actually eluded to the need for an overhaul, and the need to build something sustainable following a defeat to Sligo Rovers at Turner’s Cross during the summer.

“How I want to build the club is with people that want to be here,” he said in an interview with Off the Ball.

“They want to be here long term and make this club successful. 

"That is what this club needs. It has yo-yoed up and down, up and down. We need people who want to be here. 

"We need to build and be strong, to sustain success in the Premier Division. It has been going on too long and that is what I want to do.” 

Now it’s about formulating a plan and actioning it, as the countdown clock moves towards the first competitive games of the New Year in the Munster Senior Cup.

Maybe that is the starting point – using the knockout tournament to develop a settled XI and create sort of momentum through January and February as the club looks to start off the league campaign on the right foot.

That’s one way of looking at a picture that’s rather complex despite the clear end goal.

City are making moves towards 2026, which is a start. 

Conor Drinan, Josh Fitzpatrick, and Nevin have signed new deals and others are set to remain, meaning there will be at least some sort of year to year consistency with the squad.

There was a similar story around Turner’s Cross last season when Ruairi Keating and Sean Maguire were brought back and Sean Murray signed a long term deal after originally joining the club on loan from Glentoran.

This was done at a time when promotion was all but secured, and attention was turning towards a return to the top flight.

We know now how that went and how everyone connected with the club is back to square one again, the exact same position as 2023 with the loss to Waterford in the promotion/relegation play-off at Tallaght Stadium.

The only difference was the FAI Cup and the run that went from a game with Leicester Celtic in front of 893 spectators at Turner’s Cross to the showpiece final against Shamrock Rovers at the Aviva Stadium with over 35,000 in attendance.

The powers that be can use the passion from the stands as a way to sell the club and showcase its raw potential to interest players. 

The final also saw members of the U19s get experience on Lansdowne Road, with Matthew Murray coming on in the second half and Matthew Kiernan named as a substitute.

These are small steps on paper towards building something sustainable, something which Nash eluded to in his interview after the defeat to Sligo Rovers.

The only proof of everything working out will be safety and a comfortable place in the Premier Division, before challenging for major honours once again.

Until then, there will be long nights and winters as supporters wish for on the pitch stability.