Tim Clancy: 'Is there a better player in the country than Seani? I don't think so'

BEST PLAYER: Tim Clancy hailed Seani Maguire as the best player in the country after his goal and assist helped Cork City to their first Premier Division win since promotion. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Tim Clancy hailed Seani Maguire as the best player in the country after his goal and assist helped Cork City to their first Premier Division win since promotion.

Maguire was required to mix and match leading the line with Ruairí Keating, who completed City’s 2-1 comeback victory over Bohemians, and dropping deep to help their midfield.

“Seani has come back with a lot left in the tank,” said Clancy. “He spoke it about himself.

“He said he didn't want to come back when he was on his last legs and not be able to contribute.

“Is there a better player in the country than Seani? I don't think so. Maybe Cathal (O’Sullivan)!

“But no, Seani's got a lot of experience. He's probably a different player than when he left when he played on the shoulder and he was sharp and he was in behind.

“You can see the physicality of the Championship from the seven years he spent over there. He uses his body unbelievably well, his experience, and he's still got the knack for goals.

“Another big pleasing thing for us was that Keats and Seani have scored. That's exactly why we brought them to the club.” 

Without the injured O’Sullivan, Tim Clancy rejigged their 4-4-2 into a midfield diamond. After half an hour of Bohs setting the tempo, they binned that plan with Seán Murray shuffling into a wide berth.

The Rebel Army gaffer said fans should expect more changes on Monday.

“There's going to be multiple different formations this season. There'll be multiple different team selections. I can guarantee you right now, the team won't be the same on Monday that played tonight.

“That's what you have a squad for. We'll tweak things again come Monday. The formation might change. Personnel will change. That's what you have to do. You have to be fluid.

“We played probably two, three, four different formations during the 90 minutes. Formations change all the time during the game anyway.

“As soon as the whistle blows, you're changing formation every five seconds. It's good when you have players that can adapt and we showed that.

“We went with an extra midfielder in the middle and Malik (Dijksteel) off the front two. Bohs probably exploited the wide areas a little bit so we tweaked it again. We put Seán Murray out on the right, Malik back on the left, and Keats and Seani off each other.

“At half-time, we spoke about having a bit more composure and breaking lines with passes.

“I thought we defended brilliantly and probably the better chances in the game came from us.” 

City are unbeaten in their two home matches and hold a game in hand from their postponed trip to Shamrock Rovers.

“It's just confidence-building,” said Clancy. “You want to get your first win of the season no matter what but especially when you're a promoted team.

“We don't want the hard luck story of 'oh, we did really well today and lost 1-0 or lost 2-1’.

“The fact that we've gone in now and we've got the first win, it follows up a brilliant point against Galway.

“Galway have gone three games unbeaten and five points from their first three games, with two of them away from home.

“It probably makes the point against Galway look even better with how well they've started. It gives us a platform now to try and build on.” 

Next up is a Munster derby against Waterford at the RSC on Monday.