Tim Clancy and Cork City aiming for another win to edge away from relegation spots

"If you put a run of two or three wins together the league table changes completely,” said Clancy, who also discussed the impact of recent signing Djenairo Daniels.

BACK-TO-BACK?: Cork City manager Tim Clancy after his side's victory against Waterford on Monday. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile.

Cork City manager Tim Clancy may have felt his side were cursed when he saw new signing Djenairo Daniels suffer a knock just five minutes into his debut.

The 23-year-old striker, who was previously on the books at PSV as a youth, was only unveiled by the club just over an hour before their crucial fixture with Waterford on Easter Monday after signing a short-term deal until July.

The Dutchman was brought in to replace Ruairí Keating, who is almost certain to miss the rest of the season, and he was immediately included in City’s starting eleven for their 2-1 victory over their Munster, and potentially relegation, rivals.

“I thought ‘this can’t be serious’ like. He got another tackle then when he had to get three stitches in his calf as well,” confirmed Clancy.

“Considering he hasn’t played a lot of football in the last six months; we got a good turn out of him. He works really hard, we will get another week’s training with him, he gets to know our players a bit better, we get to know his strengths and he will get that little bit sharper as well. He gave us that physical presence up top that we have been missing.

“I don’t know if it’s to July, it’s the next window we are looking at as well so it gives D.D the opportunity to come in, play games, and get fit until July and we will assess it then.”

Daniels will be fit to lead the line for City away to Sligo Rovers on Saturday night (kick-off is at 7:45pm) with Clancy hoping to see his side make it two wins out of two.

“We’ve still got Seani (Maguire) and Malik (Dijksteel) to come back in a couple of weeks, which I think changes us completely as a team,” he continued.

“But if we can go and get a win on Saturday, which is not going to be an easy thing to do because Sligo, when they are on form, are a really good side and they showed that by beating Shamrock Rovers and the win they had down in Waterford was very comfortable.

“But if we can get a victory all of a sudden, the league table changes massively. Bohs going into the (Easter) weekend were in a bad place and now they are five points off top.

“Derry have won two in three days and all of a sudden, they are three points off top so if you put a run of two or three wins together the league table changes completely.”