THE SEASON IS too young for it to be described as a crucial game, but the meeting of Shamrock Rovers and Cork City could reveal much about the aspirations of both teams in the Premier Division this season.
Two games in, it’s so-far-so-good for Rovers and City. But a win for either at Tallaght Stadium this Friday night would be a hugely significant result, even at this early stage of the campaign.
Rovers will be particularly keen to make a statement. In their three Premier Division fixtures againt the Leesiders last season, the Hoops finished second-best on each occasion and failed to score a single goal.
Having gone so close to winning the title in 2014, there’s plenty of expectation in Cork this year. But when asked if there was pressure to get another good result at Rovers’ expense on Friday, City winger Billy Dennehy had a different view.
“I think from our side, probably not,” he said. “From their side of things… we beat them three times last year. I think we scored a lot of goals against them, ya know, so… I think they’re going to be afraid of us.
“I think any of those teams, they realise what we can do and we’ll just go up there with our normal game. We won’t approach them any different as we would to any other team. I’m sure we’ll prepare well all week and hopefully we can go up there and have another good performance.”
Dennehy moved back to Cork City last year after four seasons with Shamrock Rovers. The Tralee-born winger scored twice in last Friday’s 5-0 win against Limerick, but another former Hoop took the man-of-the-match award.
He didn’t get on the scoresheet, but Karl Sheppard impressed the Turner’s Cross crowd with a hard-working display and Dennehy was full of praise for the 24-year-old striker ahead of his return to Tallaght this week.
Dennehy said: “I played with Sheppy for a couple of years up in Dublin. I know what he’s capable of. He can bring a lot to the team. He’s got good legs.
“He had a poor year last year. He was kind of in and out of the team up in Rovers so he’s got a point to prove this year. If every fella can push themselves that bit extra it’s only good for the team.”
Dennehy also admitted that with such a strong now at the disposal of manager John Caulfield, players will have to accept that they may occasionally find themselves held in reserve.
Despite being key players for Cork City throughout last season’s title race, both Mark O’Sullivan and Dan Murray were unused substitutes against Limerick.
“Once the team is getting results then that’s all that matters to everybody,” said Dennehy. “It’s a long, long season. Last year, with all the cup games, midweek games, we probably were a bit short in a bit of strength in depth in the squad.
“This year I think we have that. When there’s a lot of midweek and cup games coming, everyone’s going to have to play their part.”
Originally published at 11.17
