A decent start

Three games into the 2015 League of Ireland and Cork City have made a decent unremarkable start to the campaign. The fixture list for the opening three games had an element of "tough start" about it with two away games at Sligo and Shamrock Rovers sandwiching a home game with Limerick.

That opening game in Sligo was played in horrible wind and rain up in Ireland's north-west. It seemed to be a common theme around the rest of the opening day fixtures with strong wind robbing us of a potentially good game between Shamrock Rovers and St Pats.
In Sligo though it seemed City were content to hold on for a point. It wasn't till Sligo had taken a late lead that City opened up from their defensive shell and chase a result. A premature celebration from the home fans added to the drama in stoppage time when a former Sligo right-back in Ross Gaynor planted his shot into the railway end goal to ensure City got out of Sligo, wet, cold and a point better off.

The point rescued in Sligo could turn out to be a big one. Leagues are often won on small margins, turning points or just sure greatness and while it maybe to early to suggest this is a turning point is could well be the point that wins City the league or guarantees a European finish or if things are particularly bad could be the difference in staying up.

The second game was against a young Limerick side with many off the field problems. City survived an early scare to rack up five goals without reply and secure the first victory of the season. I wasn't at the game but the general feeling was City will be facing tougher assignments than this over the course of the season.

The third game was a potential cracker away at Shamrock Rovers. However the game failed to ignite. A dour game with few chances followed but City got their point on the road. New signing Liam Miller showed his experience and class with a couple of fine touches but looking back at this game City might feel this was a game for the taking. With that result it means City have five points from nine which is a decent return. City host Galway tomorrow night before Saturday's trip to Bray so hopefully City can post a couple of victories to really push on with this decent start.