Nash backs squad's 'passion and belief' as Cork City look to go back-to-back

The momentum now garnered will undoubtedly help a young team, something the City boss did not shy away from.

Thu, 07 Aug, 2025 - 18:21

Shane Donovan

Josh Fitzpatrick's early long-range strike gave Cork City something to hold onto last Friday night at home to Galway United.

Goalkeeper Conor Brann - along with an all-round defensive effort - gave them what the club had pined for since Ger Nash's arrival.

A win was in the bag, their first since the manager's arrival, and the club's first since April. The gap to Sligo Rovers in ninth was now down to eight after it was stretched to 11 in cruel circumstances a week earlier.

Sligo's loss away to Shelbourne ensured it remained at eight. A forward step secured for Nash and Co. It's sure to have given all at Bishopstown a much-needed boost.

"Training has been really good for a number of weeks," City boss Nash insisted. "There's a core group of players that are giving me absolutely everything.

"So, you know, I think it's just a better feeling because we've won a game... I think we've had three clean sheets now in six.

"There's definitely something improving in that respect that we need to look at and need to keep improving, but there are signs that there's more resilience in that respect.

"That should give the players confidence, definitely."

There's been much change and upheaval in the short few months Nash has been around, too. The latest of which were the departures of Milan Mbeng and Malik Dijksteel last week.

As well, another ACL injury for Cathal O'Sullivan has robbed Nash of the Republic of Ireland under-21 international's services.

"It's a new group that's forming," he said. "I think there was maybe eight differences in the team from my first game against Galway.

"So, that's a new team in a really short amount of time. So, we're forming at a really crucial time in the season.

"We know that we're under pressure, huge pressure. But look, the group are giving me everything at the moment."

This ongoing survival mission will afford City another 10 games. 30 points on offer, with the first three up for grabs away to Derry City on Friday night.

The momentum now garnered will undoubtedly help a young team, something the City boss did not shy away from.

"I think momentum is huge," the 38-year-old said. "I think it gives us a chance to breathe a little bit. The players should take confidence from a number of the performances, not just from last Friday.

"But I think that the win changes things, changes the mindset of how people talk about it, because we have played better and not won.

"The way we won, in terms of the clean sheet, and in a really tough game against a team that really threw everything at us.

"A team of men, really experienced players and the challenges they brought. We had a lot of young players who really stood up to us and were led by the senior players... We want to build on that feeling we had last week."

On the youth that exists in the setup and the fearlessness that can accompany the same, Nash added: "I think it can bring a fearlessness, but I just think the group that I've got, it's passion.

"They're desperate to do well for this club. The majority of them are from Cork. They're Cork kids, a lot have come through the academy or, you know, they certainly care about the club.... A bit of fearlessness, but lots of passion."

So, onto that aforementioned survival mission. Can they do it? Nash is sure the necessary belief is present.

"We have to have that confidence, we have to have that belief," he said. "I think there's definitely more of that because of the game last week, because we got the win.

"We're human beings. That winning feeling gives people confidence, especially because of the clean sheet.

"We absolutely think we can do it. We know it's going to be tough, but we're giving everything."

That belief will be needed come 7.45pm on Friday night at the Ryan McBride Brandywell, where City might just smell blood against a Derry side who have lost two of their last three league fixtures.

"It's going to be a tough game, it's a tough place to go. They're a really strong team, a strong squad... We have to have the confidence and the belief in what we're trying to do," concluded the City boss.