CORK CITY HAVE confirmed the departure of popular striker Mark O’Sullivan this afternoon.
The FAI Cup holders say O’Sullivan has decided to return to work and part-time football. According to the Evening Echo, the 33-year-old will join Waterford United — who are set to be rebranded as Waterford FC — in the First Division in 2017.
Having played under John Caulfield at Munster Senior League club Avondale United, O’Sullivan joined Cork City for the 2014 season when Caulfield took over at Turner’s Cross.
He quickly became a fan favourite on Leeside and despite having to settle for a back-up role for much of his time with the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division side, O’Sullivan found the net 25 times in 88 appearances.
His final appearance for came in last month’s FAI Cup final, when he came off the bench as City defeated Dundalk 1-0 after extra time at the Aviva Stadium.
“Marky has been fantastic for us since he came in,” Caulfield said. “He would have been relatively unknown to a lot of people but he took the league by storm in his first season and he has been a key member of our squad over the last three years.
“Myself and John Cotter [Cork City's assistant manager] worked with Marky for a number of years in non-league football also. He was the top amateur player in the country for many years and, although he came relatively late to League of Ireland, he showed the ability and quality that we all know he has.
“It was a real pleasure to see how he took to League of Ireland football and how the Cork City fans took to him as well. On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to thank Marky for his hard work and dedication to the club and wish him the very best of luck in the future.”
