CORK CITY ARE certainly not resting on their laurels after winning the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division/FAI Cup double this season.
The Leesiders have already been extremely busy in the transfer market, with Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Barry McNamee, Colm Horgan and Josh O’Hanlon all arriving in recent weeks, while captain Alan Bennett and Karl Sheppard have signed new contracts.
Today, they’ve announced an agreement to bring defender Aaron Barry on a two-year deal.
The Wicklow native joins after spending the past three years at Derry City. He left local club Arklow Town as a youngster to link up with Sheffield United’s academy and also had a spell on loan in Scotland at Dumbarton.
“I am delighted to sign for Cork City,” said 24-year-old Barry. “I am coming into a winning environment and John’s signings are all of the same ilk. They are players who are at a good age and are hungry for success, and I fall into that bracket too.”
The winning mentality at the club has impressed me. There’s experience, there are leaders, there is youth, there is a bit of everything in the squad but, more than anything, it is about that winning mentality.
“I want to come in, fight for my place and play as many games as possible. I want to win something here.”
City boss John Caulfield added: “Aaron has a lot of experience in our league, he has been with Derry for the last four seasons. He is a left-sided centre back, he is very good on the ball and strong in the air. With Ryan Delaney going back to Burton, we needed to bring in another defender.
“He has been a tremendous player, playing week-in, week-out for the last four seasons. He is coming to us at a prime age, so his strengths tick all the boxes for us.
“Alan Bennett brings massive experience to the side, but Aaron brings a lot of experience with him as well. He is at a good age, he has a great attitude and he is really looking forward to it.”
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