Cork City kick-off the 2020 season with a home game against Shelbourne on Friday night.<\/p>\n
City rounded off their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win over Longford Town last weekend, while the visitors lost out to Bray Wanderers by a goal to nil in their final warm-up fixture.<\/p>\n
The last time the sides met, in October 2013, City claimed a 5-3 win at Turner’s Cross, with on-loan striker Ciar\u00e1n Kilduff netting four times against the side he will be playing for tomorrow night.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, City boss Neale Fenn said: “I’m very happy with the squad and it’s started to come together with the last few games of pre-season. Liam Bossin in goal is a commanding keeper with good experience of playing in Belgium and the UK, Joe Redmond is great on the ball and is able to play out from the back, Henry has a great engine, Cian Coleman is an absolute athlete, and we have brought in two players from QPR and Arsenal. That’s just to name a few, but we are happy with the make-up of the squad. This will be an exciting squad, and they will all buy into playing for Cork City FC.”<\/p>\n
“Cork City are a massive club, and you can’t be a massive club without expectations. We’ve got good attackers, and we’ll be a threat to any team in this division, and we’ve signed some very strong defenders. We believe in what we are doing here, and when the fans see the work-rate, and the fans see the performance I have no doubt they will get behind this group of players.”<\/p>\n
“I have a good knowledge of how Shels play from last season, and they could be a contender for Europe so it’s certainly a game we want to win. When I was a player Cork City v Shels was one of the biggest games of the season, and the fans remember that. I’m sure there will be a big crowd down from Dublin and that will only serve to add to the occasion.”<\/p>\n
There is a sense of excitement on Leeside going into this one, amplified by the clubs two latest signings; Deshane Dalling from QPR, and Joseph Olowu from Arsenal. Speaking before the game Joseph said “It’s a pleasure to be here, and it’s an exciting opportunity. Neale told me that he wants us to get the ball on the ground, play exciting football, and keep the fans behind the team. It’s where I think I need to be to help progress my career”.<\/p>\n
Young strikers Cian Murphy and Cian Bargary are still making their way back from injury, while Conor Davis is also sidelined with a knock.<\/p>\n