WPD Preview - Cork City
There will be a familiar face in the Cork City dug-out this season as Frank Kelleher returns to the club.
The man who led The Leesiders to glory in the Sports Direct Women’s FAI Cup in 2017 takes over from Danny Murphy and he will be fully aware that improvements are needed: Cork won just five Leagues games in the 2024 season. So the report card will clearly state that better results are expected.
The good news for Kelleher is that Cork have a lot of exciting young players eager to prove that they belong in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division. He will have to promote from within to fill the squad, but everyone will accept that this is a rebuilding year so it’s a case of simply getting on with it.
If there was any solace to take from last season it was the development of Heidi Mackin, Niamh Cotter and Kiera Sena. The trio all picked up Ireland underage caps as they locked down first-team spots and improved as the campaign rolled on – often standing out even when their team struggled.
Kelleher will lean on Craig Robinson, who has been promoted from the club’s EA SPORTS WU17s to assistant coach, as well as Paul Hunt and Trish Fennelly Hunt to bring new energy and direction to a group of players keen to collectively improve. Don’t be surprised if they are successful in doing just that.
