Kelleher believes 'good results are only around the corner' for Cork City

New signing Fiacre Kelleher believes the positive results are on the way.

Thu, 10 Jul, 2025 - 14:54

Andrew Horgan

Fiacre Kelleher believes it is only a matter of time before Cork City start recording more positive results as they look to avoid relegation back to the First Division.

City are currently marooned at the bottom of the table in the only automatic relegation spot, five points behind Sligo Rovers, who occupy the only playoff place and a massive 12 points behind Waterford in eighth.

The Rebel Army still have 13 games remaining to save themselves although their next two matches, away to Waterford on Friday night and at home to Sligo in two weeks’ time, could be decisive.

And speaking after their narrow loss to Celtic in the Cork Super Cup, Kelleher, who also admitted he is not close to full match fitness, believes the positive results are on the way.

“Listen, there’s new players coming into the building, there’s a feel-good factor in the changing room.

“I know that might not reflect onto the pitch at the moment but we are doing all the right things so I think good results are only around the corner for us,” insisted Kelleher, who backed up his 44 or so minutes off the bench against Shelbourne last Friday on his debut with a 45-minute cameo against the Hoops at Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday.

“I have only been training two weeks, so I had eight weeks off before that so, no. It’s slowly coming but I think I am still a few weeks away from being where I need to be but, at the same time, I feel good enough to go in there and play.

“It (playing against Celtic) came a bit quicker than expected but the occasion and everything… it was a real pleasure to be a part of.

“It was baking out there, like. They had a lot of good first team players out in that first half so, yeah, it was a really good test for us.

“When they got into a good flow, they were doing one touch, I mean, even their first goal was an incredible finish but the lead up to it was even better.

“So, it’s only positives for us really to be playing against that sort of quality, we will take a lot from that, really.

“We changed shape today we went to a back four rather than the five we have been playing the last few games. I think that worked really well today.

“I think it kind of takes away the grey areas that are in playing a back five sometimes.

“I thought we, in large parts of that game, really got to grips with keeping the spaces narrow and limiting their chances.

“When we are playing against lesser opposition, hopefully, we will be able to keep possession a bit better and create more chances as well.”

The 29-year-old was handed the armband for the first half against the club he spent a number of years at as a youth and while he admits it was an honour to lead his new side out on his return to the Páirc, he confirmed the captain duties will be returning to Charlie Lyons for their trip to Waterford.

“Just for tonight, I think. Yeah, yeah, it’s Charlie’s,” he added.

“I think with things like that, he’s given it to me, and he’s given it to me for the person that I am so I just continued to do the things that I would normally do without it.

“It’s not a big thing really although it is a pleasure to have it, it won’t change how I am and how I will be.

“But it was lovely, it was a real pleasure to walk out at Páirc Uí Chaoimh with the lads. It was nostalgic, I suppose, because I don’t live too far away from here. It was a lovely moment.

“I’d say City sports was the closest I came (to playing here), and that was in the old stadium before they did the refurb.

“I was lucky to be there, I’d say. I’ve lost all that pace anyway! It’s impressive, an impressive stadium so it was lovely.”