Cork City return will intensify Premier Division says Waterford boss Keith Long

MORE COMPETITION: Greg Bolger leads the Cork City celebrations. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Cork City’s return to the Premier Division for 2025 will make the top-flight even more competitive, according to Waterford manager Keith Long.

This season’s Premier Division has been lauded as the most exciting for years with the title and European places still up for grabs with two series left.

Waterford couldn’t keep the lead against leaders Shelbourne in their 2-1 defeat at Tolka Park but there’s just 13 points between the sides to the Blues in seventh spot.

Long’s first full season at the helm will conclude with a potential title decider against five-in-a-row chasing Shamrock Rovers on November 1, the same night Shels face a Derry City team currently third and needing a result at St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday to remain in the hunt.

Waterford, still part of the Fleetwood Group despite the jailing of owner Andy Pilley last year, couldn’t sustain a European push despite being part of the top-four for the majority of the campaign. They host Bohemians on Friday before completing at the Hoops.

Long has begun preparations for next year by retaining Pádraig Amond and Ryan Burke on contract extensions but admits deeper experience is required for next season, especially with their Munster rivals City returning.

Tim Clancy made a statement of intent by signing seasoned strikers Seani Maguire and Ruairi Keating in the July window as they cantered towards the First Division title and promotion.

The Blues boss feels he’ll be shopping in the same market as the Rebels during the off-season.

“I know people said this year would be competitive but next year will be very competitive,” predicted the former Bohemians manager.

“You’ve Cork City coming back up into it, creating a lot more competition from our point of view in the Munster area.

“There’ll be players coming back from the UK who may be attracted to Waterford, Cork or Dublin. That’s always been a challenge but we’re a progressive club that wants to move forwards.”

This season’s marquee recruit, Amond, brought his tally to 12 goals with a first-half penalty at Tolka Park and Long is of the view the 36-year-old will benefit from the arrival of other chiselled professionals.

For all of Waterford’s progress this year as Premier Division newcomers, their haul of 16 defeats in 34 games is the worst in the division, bar relegated Dundalk.

“As a promoted club, our primary objective was staying up and we’ve done that,” he summarised.

“We’ve been competitive in all games but lost too many for my liking. Part of that is having experience, leaders and winners in your dressing room.

“We’ve two games to play with an obligation to ourselves and the club to win them. There wasn’t a huge amount between us and Shelbourne but they’ve got experience whereas we are a young side - the youngest in the division.

“You could see that naivety at times. We’re not as streetwise as others, not managing the referee as well as others do.

“We need to get men in there. It’s no coincidence that the age profile of title challengers is 27 to 29. Shamrock Rovers are experienced, Shelbourne have it too and some young players.

“I need to address the lack of experience. Podge (Amond) is by some distance the oldest player in the dressing room. We’re not the most vocal and need more solidity and experience. Those games with fine margins we need to start eking results from, turning draws into wins and losses into draws.

“That’s something we’ll look to try to do but it’s easier said than done.

“It can be difficult because the Dublin thing for their bigger clubs is an attraction. At the same time, players are now available and we must be smart in our recruitment.”