Cork City's performance in St Pats loss gives Gerard Nash 'hope and confidence'

Nash was in the stands as his side suffered heartbreak when Jamie Lennon smashed home a 96th minute winner in Inchicore.

NEW ERA: New Cork City manager Gerard Nash ahead of the game. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane.

Recently appointed Cork City manager Gerard Nash is optimistic at what the future holds having seen his new team in the flesh for the first time on Friday night.

Nash was in the stands as his side suffered heartbreak away at St Pats as Jamie Lennon smashed home a 96th minute winner in Inchicore.

“That's football,’ said the 38-year-old.

“I have been in this situation before, it's never over until the final whistle, you're never sure, so it's a disappointing result undoubtedly. It was my first 90 minutes at the club.

"Did I see aspects of the performance that really pleased me? Yes, that gives me hope and confidence and should give the players the same, I am looking forward to getting to work tomorrow.”

The Rebel army thought a huge three points were secured when second half goals from skipper Charlie Lyons and a Seani Maguire penalty turned the tie in their favour, cancelling out Mason Melia’s first half opener in the process.

But a 90th minute equaliser from Zack Elbouzedi and Lennon’s late winner ensured City left Dublin empty handed, as the wait for their first clean sheet of the season continues.

Nash admitted that this will need to be addressed.

“Yeah, that's the aspect we will be focusing on very strongly, an issue we need to address and quickly, if you concede the amount of goals we have you will always be in trouble.

“We will work on it, but as important as that is, it’s also the spirit of the team, that they represent the fans that we have and we have to play in the right manner. For all the disappointment of the goals we conceded, we showed in the second half our spirit and belief.”

Reublic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson and new Cork City manager Gerard Nash ahead of the game. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane.

It may have been unconventional but on the stroke of half time, the Leixlip native raced down to the changing room to share some words of wisdom with his new charges for the first time and that  seemed to have work as they got themselves in front in the second half.

“I spoke to the players at half time, I felt there were a couple of things I needed to address, the staff worked really hard and prepared the team really well under the leadership of Liam and the other guys, we spoke at half time and there was a really good response.

"It's unique, but life is unpredictable, you have to throw yourself into it and make an impact, it was a strange introduction but we have plenty of time to get to know each other.”

And having been exposed to his first dramatic 90-minutes in the League of Ireland, it seems as if Nash has already learned the hard way at just how tight the league is this year.

“There will be 10 managers in the league tonight thinking, how can we build and go on a run?

"That's going to be important, I will be thinking about that like everyone else. It's a competitive league. You could see the fine margins in that game and fine margins decide games. We need to be better at that but it's my first day and I am looking forward to working with the players. It's a good group of players and I can't wait to get started properly.”

It’s been a whirlwind few days for the former Aston Villa and Ipswich coach who was linked to the post before and as recently as Wednesday night was involved in his former side GAIS 3-1 win away at Halmstad in the Swedish top tier.

Nash seemed to have taken the scenic route to get back home in time for Friday’s game, also admitting timing seems to be everything as he finally takes the reigns.

“My previous employer in Gothenburg (GAIS), we only played on Wednesday night, had a good game and we won, I then left the club on Thursday night, I was in four countries in a day, from Sweden to Denmark to England and eventually got here, and I will end up in Cork tonight so it's been a busy day,’ he said with a smile.

“I look at my own career, I have always tried to make myself better, do things to improve, the biggest thing now is timing, we all have things in our personal lives.

"I was lucky enough to be offered the job this week, and it was too good an opportunity to turn down, there's a feeling within the group that we can get more out of the team, and a big factor was to be back in Ireland.

"I am an Irishman, I left here at a very young age and I am looking forward to basing myself in Cork and being back home.”