2024 Season, Arrivals and Departures

[D24Saint]

Love Bolger, on his day was the best 6 in the league. Probably our best player the season we last won the league and was gutted when he left. Fitness is probably the main issue with him at this stage but on his day I'd say he'll still be more than comfortable in the First Division.

I would have taken him back as a squad player. Tbh he selling him short in the First division but probably the desire to play every week has tipped him in that direction.

[joey B]

Cristian Magerusan signed for Bray,looked decent last season,still wouldn’t trust Ian Ryan to get the most out of that squad….

[Martinho II]

Cristian Magerusan signed for Bray,looked decent last season,still wouldn’t trust Ian Ryan to get the most out of that squad….

Not too surprised Magerusan is gone but wasnt expecting Bray tbh .Only reason that I think hes not resigning is cos of having to wear the new home jersey.

[oriel]

https://twitter.com/CorkCityFC/status/1738205328288694490
Greg Bolger coming back to the Cross. I'm sure hes not the same player he was when he left after 2017, and it almost feels like a waste sending him to Athlone and Treaty and Kerry but I'm delighted hes back. One of my all time favourite City players in his short spell with us.
His performance in the 2017 Cup final off the bench and especially his performance away to Genk were all timers for me.

He's not and spent a lot of time injured at Sligo, probably injured more than played, but you are right about 2017 cup final, as painful as that ending was for us, he did make a big difference when he came on for Cork City. Strange cup final that, quite subdued in 90 mins, but to be fair you went for it last few mins.

2018 was a completely different game, Dundalk won it fairly comfortably.

Back on topic, Robbie Benson back for another season, keeping up his tradition of only signing one year deals.

[outspoken]

Cristian Magerusan signed for Bray,looked decent last season,still wouldn’t trust Ian Ryan to get the most out of that squad….

Not the loss some may think. In saying that, I'm sure he'll score against us next season

[Dermobohs]

What was his injury situation like? Was very highly thought of by long and croly at bohs but desperately unlucky with big injuries one after the other.

[placid casual]

Back on topic, Robbie Benson back for another season, keeping up his tradition of only signing one year deals.

Benson has had quite a handy number the last few years. Play a couple of games,get injured and be out for long spells,and still get new contract's.
A very skilful tidy player who I would have loved to have seen play for Rovers back in the day

[outspoken]

What was his injury situation like? Was very highly thought of by long and croly at bohs but desperately unlucky with big injuries one after the other.

Missed the entire first half of last season but TBF after that he was fairly reliable. He was left out of squad towards end of season so you can read your own reasons into that but I wasn't surprised he wasn't kept on as a result

[Thewhitepele]

He's not and spent a lot of time injured at Sligo, probably injured more than played, but you are right about 2017 cup final, as painful as that ending was for us, he did make a big difference when he came on for Cork City. Strange cup final that, quite subdued in 90 mins, but to be fair you went for it last few mins.

2018 was a completely different game, Dundalk won it fairly comfortably.

Back on topic, Robbie Benson back for another season, keeping up his tradition of only signing one year deals.
He wasn't injured that much for Sligo Rovers but his days of 90 minutes are numbered. Will do a good 60 and with 5 subs and big squads I don't see that as a problem for Cork.

[trevy]

Killian Cantwell signed for Bray. He should be a decent signing for them.

[joey B]

Tunde Owolabi joined Macclesfield,was decent for us for a while but in general play was mostly pretty bad,all instinct and very little football intelligence,is a very nice fella by all accounts so best of luck to him….

[D24Saint]

Tunde Owolabi joined Macclesfield,was decent for us for a while but in general play was mostly pretty bad,all instinct and very little football intelligence,is a very nice fella by all accounts so best of luck to him….

Unfortunately for Tunde he will spend his career as a journeyman. He showed flashes of real potential for us last year but couldn’t never find consistency.

[nigel-harps1954]

Has a wicked turn of pace, and generally a good finisher, but definitely lacks that bit of football intelligence to make it at the top level.
Very much a confidence player. When things are going well, they go really well. The flip side, if things aren't going well, he looks awful.
A really top lad though, and I'm sure he'll earn a decent wage out of Robbie Savage and Co.

[2 Year Contract]

Has a wicked turn of pace, and generally a good finisher, but definitely lacks that bit of football intelligence to make it at the top level.
Very much a confidence player. When things are going well, they go really well. The flip side, if things aren't going well, he looks awful.
A really top lad though, and I'm sure he'll earn a decent wage out of Robbie Savage and Co.

I was just having a look into Macclesfield FC to see what level they’re at. They’re the phoenix club of Macclesfield Town who went bust in 2020. They play in the 7th tier in England and have former Senegal international and Everton striker Oumar Niasse playing for them. A mad fall from grace for him considering he’s still only 33 and was on the books at Everton until as recently as 2020. As you said, Savage and Co must be throwing some very good money at it relatively speaking

[Shinkicker]

Bohs have confirmed the return of the housewives favourite and club kit model, Rob Cornwall

[Jack B]

Tunde had some of the raw materials in terms of his pace and strength but not a lot else between poor decision making and a general lack of technical ability. For a side like Harps that would play on the counter most weeks he could be effective but he was otherwise pretty limited, and that's at this level. Saying that though I've seen fans of National League sides say that Macclesfield are now nailed-on to win the league by signing him because of how much he dominated at that level previously, so hopefully it all clicks for him there.

Cornwall is a combination of a decent but uninspiring one from Bohs. They love re-signing a former player and he was solid if unspectacular previously, but probably doesn't hugely improve them and has been playing at a questionable level for the last couple of seasons.

[ger121]

Bohs have confirmed the return of the housewives favourite and club kit model, Rob Cornwall

The club photographer for one is delighted.

[Shearer]

Oisin O'Reilly joins Treaty from Galway

[Partizan]

Ronan Coughlan has left Waterford.

https://waterfordfc.ie/ronan-coughlan-departs/?fbclid=IwAR2XCakSBQuV08CzcF2VM_oJa6GlVP516GtfarP0 ZaMjdDiKBtrmY0qjeig

[SPXcyan]

He's a huge loss to the club, be very difficult to find a suitable replacement now, Cameron Cresswell may get his chance at long last.

[trevy]

Cresswell isn't good enough to be starting Premier division striker. He didn't impress me that much last year when he did start a few games. I'm sure we'll be going all out to sign a striker now. The UK market will open on 1 January so possibly someone from there.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Assuming Coughlan has something lined up in England but would be surprised if he did much there. Obviously brilliant season in Division 1 last season but his record with us and Pats in the Premier is very poor outside of penalties.

[joey B]

Afolabi joined K.V. Kortrijk from Bohs….

[nigel-harps1954]

Assuming Coughlan has something lined up in England but would be surprised if he did much there. Obviously brilliant season in Division 1 last season but his record with us and Pats in the Premier is very poor outside of penalties.

Coughlan never impressed me in the Premier Division. He hit a good run of form last season in a poor First Division, but I'm not sure he'll be all that much of a miss for Waterford. If he ends up at Fleetwood or similar, he'll be back inside a year.

[nigel-harps1954]

Afolabi joined K.V. Kortrijk from Bohs….

This is potentially a disaster move, rooted bottom of the Belgian league with ten points all season. They're not out of it, by any means, but a long shot to stay up.

[Straightstory]

This is potentially a disaster move, rooted bottom of the Belgian league with ten points all season. They're not out of it, by any means, but a long shot to stay up.

It's an odd one, all right. He must have been desperate to get away.

[outspoken]

Wonder has he maybe signed a relegation release clause?

[Jd2793]

coughlan isnt an out and out striker. he was miles too good for that awful first division which was as clear as day when he signed. he plays more like a 10/second striker. anyone signing him in england expecting a good goal tally doesnt get what hes good at.

[sbgawa]

This is potentially a disaster move, rooted bottom of the Belgian league with ten points all season. They're not out of it, by any means, but a long shot to stay up.

Honestly think he is completely over rated. Will be interesting to see how he gets on. Wish him yhe best anyway.

[total hoofball]

This is potentially a disaster move, rooted bottom of the Belgian league with ten points all season. They're not out of it, by any means, but a long shot to stay up.
You can only think Afolabi either didn't get any decent offer from the UK or the Belgian's are offering a very big bag of money

Strange one nonetheless that a top flight Belgian team in a relegation mire are looking to the LOI to get them out of their troubles on a player that has a sample of one very hot half of a season

[total hoofball]

Assuming Coughlan has something lined up in England but would be surprised if he did much there. Obviously brilliant season in Division 1 last season but his record with us and Pats in the Premier is very poor outside of penalties.
I'd guess he is off to Fleetwood? They don't seem to be bothered by signing players from Waterford out of the crap standard of the First Division irrespective of their poor position in League One, Patterson is a regular for them and Quitirna also active part of their squad too

[joey B]

Conor Malley joined Sligo from Dundalk….

[Yossarian]

Conor Malley joined Sligo from Dundalk….

There’s a decent player in there but his laziness and casual attitude, with and without the ball, makes me not that bothered that he has gone. If you want to play the game at a snails pace then he’s the man for the job.

[ger121]

Honestly think he is completely over rated. Will be interesting to see how he gets on. Wish him yhe best anyway.

Like Johnny Kenny overrated?

[sulywaterfordfc]

I'd guess he is off to Fleetwood? They don't seem to be bothered by signing players from Waterford out of the crap standard of the First Division irrespective of their poor position in League One, Patterson is a regular for them and Quitirna also active part of their squad too


Majority of LOI fans commentating on the news are assuming he turned down a new contract and are assuming he’s signing for Fleetwood. I don’t think anyone knows where he’s going yet. There hasn’t been any rumours or paper talk.

I’ve heard his missus is English and she wants him based in England. Hence why he wants to find a club over there.

It’s all hearsay though, best of luck to him where ever he goes. To say he won’t be a miss is wildly insane, there isn’t an available striker out there with his experience imo. The other striker we have isn’t good enough to replace him. A lot of work needing to be done to the squad.

[Jack B]

The club itself and their situation may be questionable but I like the move from Afolabi. Would like it to become more of a regular occurrence that players from the league take up options like this where the level is still good and more suited to the style of play from here, rather than taking the first opportunity in the UK and all the risks that come with it.

Will be interesting to see what the ripple effect is with the striker situation here. The Hoban saga still seems it hasn't been resolved yet, and Bohs could put an additional spanner in the works now they've a few quid and desperately need a replacement. Or it could just result in them stumping up the 60k or so for Lonergan that McDonnell reported on previously.

[sbgawa]

Like Johnny Kenny overrated?

There's an interesting one alright. Close call I'd say.
No idea how he has been kept on for next season. (Or I think so anyway, sure I heard it somewhere)

[Philosophizer]

There's an interesting one alright. Close call I'd say.
No idea how he has been kept on for next season. (Or I think so anyway, sure I heard it somewhere)
I think Kenny is quite good. His touch and link up play are usually decent when I’ve seen him but he’s usually horrendous in front of goal. I think it’s a confidence issue with him. If he can bag a few goals and go on a run he could be v good.

[outspoken]

There’s a decent player in there but his laziness and casual attitude, with and without the ball, makes me not that bothered that he has gone. If you want to play the game at a snails pace then he’s the man for the job.

This. Not sure he's the sort of player I'd want in JR position when you really need a better showing than last year. I like the fact Sligo are going down the LOI route for players after so many costly overseas imports but the players they are signing all seem to have big risks attacked. Malley - Attitude question marks, Power - Injury history, Waweru - Can he step up.

[nigel-harps1954]

Potentially points closer at big budget cutbacks at Sligo, rather than simply looking closer to home?

[redobit]

Potentially points closer at big budget cutbacks at Sligo, rather than simply looking closer to home?

Its definitely both. Lessons learned on the gamble of too many foreign recruits. Budget down on last season given there is no European money.
Our budget was 7th highest last season. To put that into perspective, it was more than the budget in 2012 ... the year we won the league.

[D24Saint]

Ben McCormack has signed for Waterford. I expected him to leave. He has a bit about him and regular football could help him improve.

[2 Year Contract]

Ben McCormack has signed for Waterford. I expected him to leave. He has a bit about him and regular football could help him improve.

Agree on that, good to get a fee for him and comical that Dundalk have missed out on him again

[oriel]

There's prob a good player in Malley, but he frustrated a lot of Dundalk fans getting picked so many times by SOD last season, had some good games, a lot though he looked almost disinterested.

Good passer of the ball, but always thought he wanted to slow the game down to suit himself, but just wouldn't get 'stuck in', in summary I could never make my mind up on him, be interesting to see how he gets on at Sligo.

[oriel]

Agree on that, good to get a few for him and comical that Dundalk have missed out on him again

The link from Dundalk cooled well over a week ago on McCormack, probably down to wages offered, but we were definitely in for him from early Dec.

[D24Saint]

The link from Dundalk cooled well over a week ago on McCormack, probably down to wages offered, but we were definitely in for him from early Dec.

Are things that tight budget wise ? I wouldn’t have imagined that his demands were that high. He barely kicked a ball for us last season.

[culloty82]

Kerry sign Jack Kavanagh from Athlone, meaning the defence seems well covered now, but as things stand, we have four midfielders and two strikers, so that'll presumably be the New Year focus. Interesting that he is 21, and Spain is 22, so perhaps there's a deliberate policy to concentrate on younger players?

[oriel]

Are things that tight budget wise ? I wouldn’t have imagined that his demands were that high. He barely kicked a ball for us last season.

New DFC owner said budget for 2024 would be same as 2023, so not fully sure, maybe it was the difference of a few hundred and player went for higher offer (understandable), but def Dundalk seemed to cool off on their interest from what I heard last few weeks.

[SPXcyan]

Interesting that the club has paid out yet another fee for a player here, a third one to be announced tomorrow, also a fee paid.

[RealJohn91]

Interesting that the club has paid out yet another fee for a player here, a third one to be announced tomorrow, also a fee paid.
It's going to become more and more common now. I don't think it's really dawned on a lot fans who follow the league how small the pool of home based proven players there is available. Going by the reactions online to the lack of business being done by some clubs it'll probably take a while yet for that to happen.