Cork City make major statement of intent with Seani Maguire signing 

2017: Cork City's Seani Maguire celebrates his third goal against Levadia Tallinn. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Seani Maguire is returning to Cork City – signing a three-and-a-half-year contract with the First Division leaders.

The 30-year-old bolsters Tim Clancy’s strikeforce further following the recapture nine days ago of Ruairí Keating, last season’s top scorer who moved to St Pattick’s Athletic following City’s relegation.

Maguire was a free agent after his recent release from Carlisle United and had been training with the PFA camp in England for out-of-contract players.

Fellow League of Ireland club Bohemians were also in the mix to secure his signature, while Galway United boss John Caulfield admitted falling short with a wage offer as the Kilkenny native has settled on a Leeside comeback. 

He and his wife Claudia-Rose, a Cork local, in June announced the birth of their child, a baby boy.

Maguire was the standout performer during City’s double-winning year of 2017, his 16 goals in the first 17 league games convincing Preston North End to activate the €150,000 release clause midway through that season. 

He had also scored the extra-time winner for the Rebels in the 2016 FAI Cup final win over Dundalk at Lansdowne Road.

City would in early 2020 cash in the sell-on clauses they brokered with Preston for the sale of Maguire and before him, Alan Browne, the €500,000 necessary to discharge liabilities, including a revenue bill, to acquire their license to compete in the League.

That season was interrupted and halved due to Covid, culminating in City being relegated. They were also relegated last season but are on course for a top-flight return, 15 points ahead with 10 games remaining.

“If they are available, we would certainly like to be in the hunt to sign players that we think would improve the club and help the club going forward,” Clancy said last week on the Maguire links.

“Again, Sean is in that category as well, as well as many other players like that. Our intention is to try and sign players that would help our young players for starters, to develop them and give them the structures and experience to develop further.

“I think the more players we sign of that calibre it would actually encourage other players to come to the club as well.

“I think they look at Ruairí coming back in and it’s a massive signing for us, the success he had and if you can add that with a couple of more, the more high quality players you bring in the more people will want to come and sign here.

“It can only be a benefit to all aspects of the club getting a high profile signing like Ruairí in.” 

Maguire played over 200 games in England, the majority for Preston where he spent six years. 

He had a brief spell with Coventry City before spending his final year with Carlisle United, who confirmed his departure following their relegation to League Two. He won 11 senior caps for Ireland.

“I had such an amazing spell at the club here before going to Preston and I have always wanted to come back," Maguire said. 

"I’ve been speaking with the club over the last few weeks, and I have been really impressed by the plans the club has to build towards getting back to where a club of this size should be.

"There are some really good players at the club, some really exciting young players, and I hope that I can use my experience to help them to achieve their potential.

“I have been watching things at the club over the last few years and was really disappointed to see the club down in the First Division, but I know that the club has the ambition to be a force in the Premier Division again and I feel like I can make a big contribution to that."

He continued: "Obviously, the team have got themselves into a really good position in the league, and we want to make sure that we finish the job and book a place in the Premier Division for next season. There is also the FAI Cup game against Derry City next week, which I know everyone at the club is looking forward to as well.

“You look at the crowds the club was getting last season and again this season, and there is no doubt in my mind that this is one of the biggest clubs in the country. 

"The fans were incredible for me in my previous spell here and I cannot wait to play in front of them again. I am really looking forward to being back playing at Turner’s Cross and to being part of what the club is building.”