Nash wants Cork City to win respect in FAI Cup final silver lining
Derry City supporters celebrate after their side's victory in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Cork City and Derry City at Turner's Cross in Cork. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
It’s not just silverware on the line when Cork City take on Shamrock Rovers in Sunday’s FAI Cup final. Ger Nash wants the club to win back respect too.
The Leesiders concluded their league campaign on Saturday, 15 points adrift of safety in tumbling to a third Premier Division relegation since 2020.
For the fourth time in six seasons, they are set to ply their trade in the second tier in 2026.
However, they could yet have European football to go with it. If they can upset the odds against double-chasing Rovers, City would advance into next year’s Europa League first qualifying round.
For manager Nash, the promise of a Cup final doesn’t draw the sting from relegation.
“No, that hurts. We almost suffered that twice. We suffered that in Galway, and we also suffered that after the Shelbourne game.
“When you ask me that question, it brings it back, and it's tough to deal with.
“What it gives us is a chance to give our fans something to put some respect back on the club. Getting our fans to feel what they want to feel, which is to be a big club competing for the big trophies.
“We know what's happened in the league, but it's a huge motivation for everybody involved with the club. And we've a chance to be in Europe.
“So let's get real, this is our season. This is our season this weekend. That result will define our season in terms of there being a silver lining to what has been a year where a lot of stuff has gone on.”
The famous final-day Premier Division triumph over Derry City in 2005 formed the front-page image of Saturday’s match programme.
Twenty years on, this was a league-closing contest of an entirely different variety. The hosts’ relegation had been confirmed since last month, accompanied by a series of fan protests against the club ownership.
Former manager Tim Clancy, who steered the team through the first 15 games of the season, told Off The Ball last week that the club were “miles away” from the budgets of the top five clubs.
“Financially, they’re not in a position to be challenging Rovers, Derry, Pat’s, Bohs, or Shels, and that’s why there’s a lot of frustration down there,” he said.
With the club seeking to galvanise around the Cup final, this game formed a dress rehearsal, with players trying to stay sharp while keen to avoid any injuries.
Nash was happy to achieve the latter objective in a 1-0 defeat as Darragh Crowley’s withdrawal was deemed “completely precautionary”.
Tactically, Cork will have to prevent Rovers getting behind their low block down the flanks and fizzing in crosses. Derry, mirroring the champions’ 3-5-2 shape, used that blueprint to create their best opportunities.
“We wanted to perform well. I thought we did that in the second half. We were much improved. It was a game of relatively few chances,” said Nash.
“Disappointed with the first half. They scored a good goal from their perspective. We were disappointed with how we were building up. We didn't have enough options on the build. We were dispossessed, and then they score off the cross.
“In the second half, Seani (Maguire) has a similar chance. The keeper makes a wonderful save.”
The loudest cheer from the 1,814 Turner’s Cross crowd was reserved for Ruairí Keating’s introduction as a second-half sub.
The striker completed his earlier-than-expected return from an Achilles rupture seven months after the injury occurred at the Brandywell.
“We wish we'd had him all season. It might have been a different situation if we did,” said Nash with regret.
“But we're delighted to get him back. He's an option now for us off the bench up in the Aviva, depending on how he recovers from today.”
Derry boss Tiernan Lynch was happy to nail down second place, although their wait for Premier Division silverware extends into a 29th year. Of their five runners-up finishes in that spell, three have come since 2022.
His side are guaranteed a spot in the Conference League. However, if Rovers win the FAI Cup final, that will be upgraded to the Europa League.
“Our objective at this football club has to always be to win trophies and lift silverware. That wasn't the case,” said Lynch.
“We are delighted that we got European football in our first season. There was a lot of learning curves there for us. So it's a progressive season. I don't see it as a successful season.”
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