'Our squad will be in a healthier place': Cork City boss confident about future ahead of FAI Cup final

Cork City boss Ger Nash says the club is in a far strong position heading into Sunday’s FAI Cup final with many players already under contract for next season.

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025 - 08:08

John Fallon

Everybody is aware that Sunday’s FAI Cup final will define Cork City’s season. What’s debatable is whether the outcome will define next season.

Were City to follow Drogheda United’s template from last season by causing an upset at the national stadium, not only will the Cup be won in a relegation season but there’s entry to the Europa League to boot.

No Irish qualifier has begun their European route in Uefa’s second competition since the advent of the Conference League, the depths of the covid-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020.

Although the drop triggers a 90% plummet in the club’s annual Uefa grant of €356,000, European qualification grosses almost €700,000.

With it, there’s the parachute of slipping back into the Conference League if they lose their Europa League tie.

Delivering silverware for an expected travelling fanbase of 20,000 after a dire season is foremost but denying Shamrock Rovers the double would also intersperse next year’s First Division trips up to Finn Harps and down to Wexford with a first European odyssey for seven years.

Manager Ger Nash, plus his staff of David Meyler and Mark McNulty, are tasked with crafting a masterplan to produce a result which doesn’t seem so aspirational as before Rovers limped over the title finishing line.

Nash is aware of how the financial fruits from success can influence his squad for next season. Both in terms of retaining and recruiting talent.

“I think every player's situation is different but this will be part of it,” he admitted about the impact on budgeting.

“What we could be offering players is different based on whether we're in Europe or whether we're just in the First Division. So there's definitely some context around that.”

The man who replaced promotion-winning boss Tim Clancy in May isn’t concerned about defeat prompting an exodus for the tilt at an immediate return in 2026.

“What I will say is that when I joined this club we had five players that were under contract for the 2026 season,” he explained.

“As of today we have 17, so we've actually got a lot of our business done early.

“That's before the cup final is played and we know if we're in Europe.

“I think there's been a lot of work done in that regard which probably hasn't been seen.

“We're along the way with having a more settled squad than what happened at the start of this season and what was allowed to happen in mid-season.

“That helps in terms of having a settled squad, where we can have an identity to try and build something that is more sustainable than just working window to window.”

He added about the contract stability: “There’s small things too. We've got someone like Matt Murray who is 18.

“He attracted interest from Brighton and Hove Albion during the summer but because he’s signed a new deal we have the financial control in those situations.

“In my opinion, our squad will be in a healthier place in terms of the club’s long-term future, no matter what happens on Sunday.”

The prospects of the footballers doing what the hurlers did, winning a senior national title, is bolstered by the availability of Seáni Maguire and Ruairi Keating.

Club owner Dermot Usher has shipped flak for pinning their Premier League ambitions on the strikeforce he brought back in a double deal midway through the 2024 season.

Injuries hampered both this term, especially Keating who hasn’t started a match since April when he ruptured his Achilles.

Saturday’s cameo in the final league game at home to Derry City proved the forward is regaining match fitness. He’ll start the final on the bench, primed to be unleashed alongside Maguire when circumstances demand.

“It's not a hard decision because my own career was ended by injury,” said Nash, empathising from the knee troubles at Ipswich Town that migrated him into coaching under Mick McCarthy.

“I would never take a risk on a player but Keats wouldn't have played last Saturday if he wasn't ready.

“He hasn’t been rushed back and you cannot expect a player to be at his best in terms of the football that he's missed.

“For instance, it’s unrealistic for him to be coming on after five minutes if we’ve to substitute a player through injury.

“You look at a player's fitness levels but also their personality. Ruairi has the temperament to suit the big occasion; a player that will puff his chest out thinking he's coming on to score.

“The reality is it'll be the white heat of the game that decides whether we use him and for how long.”

The Rebel Army chief confirmed he’s picked his goalkeeper early in the week – with Conor Brann thought to have shaded David Odumosu for the spot.

“From the semi-final win over St Patrick’s Athletic four weeks ago, we used the league games to give players minutes, probably to the detriment of a couple of results,” he outlined about juggling their league run-in, plundering towards relegation.

“A player can get injured in the warm-up if they haven’t had gametime for three months, so that's been beneficial.”

Most of the preparation is completed but there could yet be an unnamed Cork sporting legend appearing in the Bishopstown dressing-room to provide inspiration.

“I do believe in that because anything that gives you an edge is really important,” said the 39-year-old, who joined City from Aston Villa, via a stint in Sweden.

“We haven't gone down that route before because we have a lot of the right characters in the group.

“Unity is our strength. There’s a real belief inside the camp, probably more belief internally than there is outside.”