Brighton move works for City and Lenihan

So the much anticipated transfer of Brian Lenihan has finally been confirmed by Cork City FC.

Brighton and Hove Albion, reportedly, have bought him for a fee in the region of €200,000, (although at time of writing this is yet to be confirmed).

If true, this represents great value for Brighton, who will be hoping that they have bought the next Seamus Coleman, himself purchased for a similar amount (reportedly £150,000, including add-ons) from Sligo by Everton back in 2009.

One could argue that the figure is very low compared with that sought by Scandinavian clubs for their players.

The fact cannot be ignored that a Swedish, Danish or Norwegian player of the same age as Lenihan (20) playing in the international U21 side (like Lenihan is doing), with an impressive first team season under his belt in their own domestic league would demand a figure more in the millions than in the hundreds of thousands from a club from the UK.

Perhaps this reflects badly on Cork City FC, you might ask? No, it does not.

While a quick review of the players sold by Cork City in the last 10 years would reveal higher transfer fees achieved for Roy O’Donovan, David Meyler and Alan Bennett between 2006-2008, these were achieved when the club was full-time.

The problem Cork City face is the same as the rest of the top clubs in the League of Ireland at the moment. They cannot afford to pay players during the off-season. Thus contracts conclude at the end of every season. So Lenihan’s contract would have expired in October and he could have left for nothing.

Having joined Cork City from progressive local outfit College Corinthians, Lenihan achieved very high marks in his Leaving Cert and was completing his first year in commerce at UCC when football began to take over.

He will go to England with all of that behind him should anything go wrong.

A further plus is that having played a near full season of adult football, he will go there mature and ready; an adult in an adult’s game. He did not go on any demeaning trials, and his contract is not to play with the youths, or the reserves but with the first team.

Quite a contrast to the risky venture that most of our best and brightest players still take, on leaving these shores, at the age of 16 for the ‘digs’ and academies of English football.

Cork City and Brian Lenihan have done quite well, considering.

Cork plan big send-off for full-back

By Liam Mackey

The all-Premier Division clash of Cork City and Bohemians at Turner’s Cross is the pick of tonight’s FAI Cup third round action, with City boss John Caulfield urging a big turn-out for what is expected to be Brian Lenihan’s last appearance for the Rebels.

As a change from the relentless pressure of their title challenge, Caulfield is relishing tonight’s cup meeting with Owen Heary’s team.

“From my point of view, it is about the romance of the cup,” he said. “Everyone knows that the cup final will be held in the Aviva and we have never been there since it was done up. It is a good opportunity for us to get into the quarter final, and while it will be a difficult game, everyone enjoys the feeling of still being in the cup as the season progresses.

“When I played, you always loved going as far as you could in the cup because of the excitement of knockout football.”

Confirming that the apparently Brighton-bound Lenihan will be available for the tie, Caulfield added: “I would hope that the crowd will come out in force to give him a big send-off in what is likely to be his final appearance for the club.”

For the home side, Rob Lehane remains sidelined with an ankle injury, Ross Gaynor is cup-tied and there are doubts over John O’Flynn and Gavin Kavanagh.

Bohemians have a draw and a win against Cork this season but Owen Heary has conceded that the cup is a very different matter.

“They’re a good team, a strong, physical team,” he said. “They’re up at the top of the table on merit and they will have massive support down there. But cup games can go any way. They can be decided by a moment of madness or a moment of genius.”

In tonight’s other FAI Ford Cup ties, St Pat’s are at home to Shelbourne, Dundalk host Galway FC, Derry City welcome non-league Malahide United, Shamrock Rovers face Longford Town (8pm) and Wexford Youths take on Finn Harps (8pm). Matches kick-off at 7.45pm unless otherwise indicated.