Cork’s Coffey aiming to mark milestone with league title

By Stephen Barry

With his Cork City side on the verge of winning the Aitricity League of Ireland First Division title, Barry Coffey is still striving to evolve his game to a new level.

The Nenagh native could make his 100th appearance for the club away to UCD on Friday, where victory would secure silverware and promotion to the Premier Division with six games to spare.

Having initially signed on loan from Glasgow Celtic in July 2021, Coffey was the club’s top scorer with fourteen goals when they won the First Division the following year.

After suffering relegation last season, the club have been runaway leaders with only one loss to their name and a sixteen-point advantage at the top of the table.

Coffey has netted some spectacular efforts among his five goals in 24 games this season, including the May Goal of the Month during his best run of form.

In recent times, Coffey has found himself in and out of the team between fierce competition for places and a change in formation.

“It's been okay,” he says of his form this season.

“A lot of teams play that low block, I’ve not really played too much in attacking roles which is one of my bigger strengths.

“But it’s been alright. I’ve scored a couple of goals when I have got form.

“Injuring my foot at the start of the year and carrying that is quite annoying at times but it’s been ok.

“It’s not been amazing but I’m part of a team and a squad that had a goal to win the league and I’ve done my fair bit in contributing towards that.

“Now we’ve gone to a 4-4-2, it’s probably a bit different as well because I’m not really a CDM (central defensive midfielder) and I’m not really a striker so you’re kind of caught there.

“But needs must and that’s just up to me to evolve my game more and be ready and patient for changes in terms of formation if it does come or even if I do play in a deeper role.

“Learning off of Greg (Bolger) and Muzz (Seán Murray) is always good for me. They’ve obviously a bit more experience than me.

“Overall, it’s been ok. I’m not shouting from the rooftops but I’m still quite proud of scoring goals for Cork. It’s still a really nice achievement and hopefully I can get a couple more and finish the season on a high in the next couple of weeks.”

With City’s full-time squad possessing talent and resources unmatched by the other part-time First Division clubs, Coffey feels the focus remains on closing out the season in a professional manner.

“Ultimately, it’s just getting the job done,” he said of winning the league.

“That’s not to be disrespectful or anything. It’s just that was the goal at the start of the year.

“We knew we were good enough. With the squad and talented players we have, the bare minimum would be to win the league.

“It’s probably not as satisfying as the first time around but it’s still a huge achievement to be in the position we are and the manner in which we’ve done it is quite impressive.”

The team has also featured contributions from fellow Tipperary natives in top-scorer Jack Doherty from Carrick-on-Suir, winger Cian Bargary from Golden, and Cahir striker Cian Murphy.

Their ranks have been further bolstered by two big-name signings in preparation for next year’s Premier Division push. Eleven-time Ireland international Seanie Maguire and 2023 top-scorer Ruairí Keating have returned to the club, netting two goals each in their first two league games playing together.

“That’s one of the maddest few days in the club’s recent history,” says Coffey of the double signing.

“They’re worth their weight in gold. You’ve got two absolute goal merchants. The best thing about it is they’re very different and very similar. They both put the ball in the net but they’re different in the way they go about it.

“If they’re running at you, any defence in the country would be afraid of one of them never mind two of them together. That was a massive boost and drove the quality up 100% across the board.

“Good players don’t just elevate themselves. They bring along the whole group. Having the both of them is a force not to be messed with. They’re really only getting fit now.

“They’re both not at 100% but the performances they’re already putting in it shows scary signs for the foreseeable once they start getting fitter and more games underneath them playing together.

“The driving force for a squad is how good the person that’s behind you on the bench is. They’re pushing you to be better and that’s how the standards go up around the place.

“Hopefully that drives us all on another bit to keep getting better.”