Champions City Coronated at the Cross

📷 KBD Photos

This year’s City squad graced the Turners Cross pitch for the final time, as they stepped up to face Wexford on the final day of the First Division season. It was trophy night at the cross as City received their long awaited First Division title and finally we get to see the back of the second tier, hopefully for the last.

There was a game to play of course and City were coming into it with a bit of a point to prove, as they were coming off the back of a 4-1 hammering away at the hands of Athlone Town. Tim Clancy wanted to go out on a high, and set out to do so by making five changes to the side that lost up in Athlone. He brought in Charlie Lyons, Sean Murray, Seani Maguire, Cathal O’Sullivan and Cian Coleman to replace Niall Brookwell, John O’Donovan, Barry Coffey, Arran Healy and Josh Fitzpatrick. 

Wexford came into this one having secured a playoff place last time out with a comfortable 4-0 win at home over Kerry FC. That win put them into second place, but meant that the placements in the playoffs were going to be confirmed on the final day. Wexford’s possible opponents in the playoffs are Bray Wanderers, Athlone Town and UCD. All very strong sides that could give Drogheda or Bohs a run for their money, as Wexford have already done by narrowly losing 3-2 to Drogheda in the cup.

City were not interested in wasting any time at all early on, and took the lead inside three minutes. Cian Coleman won a ball at the back and slid a direct pass to the feet of Greg Bolger. Bolger turned and knocked one over the top of the right hand channel for Keating to chase. Keats got to it ahead of the Wexford backline and shifted his body to send an effort towards goal. Wexford keeper Conor Walsh got a foot on it, but it wasn't enough to keep it out as the hosts went in front.

After the goal, Wexford were able to tame the home side for about twenty minutes or so before Ruairi Keating once again threatened. Greg Bolger won a loose ball in midfield and sent a low pass to Seani Maguire. Maguire played it back to Ruairi Keating at the edge of the box who slipped it right to Cathal O’Sullivan. Cathal cut inside and played it through to Keating in the right channel. Keats took a touch and fired a shot towards the near post, but his strike went narrowly over the bar

City were piling on the pressure, and they eventually found a second with eighteen minutes to go in the half. Sean Murray picked up the ball in midfield and sprayed it left to Evan McLaughlin. McLaughlin layed it centrally to Malik Dijksteel who danced his way into the Wexford box before pulling it back to Cathal O’Sullivan, who brilliantly wrapped his shot into the top right corner to double the Rebel Army’s lead.

City were far from done and added a third just two minutes after their second. Evan McLaughlin found Bolger with a pass, and Greg sent a first time ball over the top of the left hand side. Seani Maguire won a tussle with Lewis Temple and got to the ball first and began bearing down on goal from the left hand side. Maguire rode a challenge from Cian O’Malley before calmly slotting it into the far right corner with his left foot to put City three to the good. 

City could have easily got a fourth but were somehow kept out five minutes later. City won a free kick inside the Wexford half, and Bolger took it quickly and played a brilliant ball over the left hand side and finding a wide open Seani Maguire. Seani squared it to Keats, who faked a shot to drop the keeper, before sending an effort towards a keeperless goal, but his effort was somehow kept out on the line by the head of Lewis Temple.

That was the last chance of a first half that saw City absolutely dominate the Wexicans and they went into the half with a comfortable three goal lead.

It took City fifteen minutes or so to settle back into the game after halftime, but the, or more specifically Cathal O’Sullivan, showed their class with half an hour to play. Charlie Lyons sent a long ball forward, which was flicked away by Wexford, but straight to Cathal O Sullivan on the right hand side. Cathal cut inside and wrapped a captivating shot from 25 yards out curling into the bottom left corner to get his second of the day and extend City’s lead to four goals.

City were playing free flowing football, and only two minutes after Darragh Crowley had an effort from the edge of the box tipped over the bar, City found their fifth of the night. Evan McLaughlin sent an inswinging corner towards the penalty spot, where it found the head of Cian Bargary, who glanced a header past Conor Walsh to get City’s fifth of the night.

Five didn't seem to be enough, and Malik Dijksteel agreed as he put the hosts six to the good with eighteen minutes to play. Cian Bargary clipped a ball down the line to Darragh Crowley, who brilliantly shifted past Conor Crowley to get to the byline. Darragh fired a ball across goal where it found Malik Dijksteel, who was able to messily bundle it home to give City their sixth goal of the match.

City were in cruise control from there on in, which allowed Wexford to finally create a bit, and they did go close with ten minutes to go. Mikie Rowe picked up the ball in a central area at the edge of the box and began running at the City defence, before laying it left to Kaylem Harnett. Harnett found Cian Curtis on the penalty spot, who took a powerful shot on goal, but saw it come off of the bar and over.

Wexford managed to fit another chance in right on the brink of full time. Cian Curtis picked up the ball at the edge of the City area and slipped it through to Divin Isamala, who was bundled over in the box by Matthew Kiernan to give Wexford a penalty and a chance at a consolation goal. It was Cian Curtis who stepped up to take it. Curtis went low towards the bottom right corner, but so did Brad Wade and the City keeper pushed the penalty away to keep his much deserved clean sheet.

And that was that, City’s return to the Premier Division was complete and the trophy was held aloft once again in Turners Cross. City dominated in every aspect on the night, without Wexford even being able to get near them. It was a huge display from City and a warning to Premier Division clubs next year about what might be to come. As I said, Wexford never really were able to touch City and the football was incredibly free-flowing from the hosts, with football being played that we haven't really seen all year from City. Wexford now look ahead to a two-legged playoff matchup with Athlone Town, the winner of which will play the winner of UCD vd Bray for a place in the Promotion/Relegation playoff final

My Man of the Match on the night goes to Cathal O’Sullivan. Not for the first time this season, Cathal lit up the turf of the Cross and caused the Wexford defence so many problems all night long. The Wexford defence struggled severely to deal with him, and he took his two goals exceptionally and deserves the Man of the Match.

So then, that's the 2024 season wrapped up. A season where nothing but a league title was remotely acceptable, and our wishes as a fanbase were granted. A league that was won by a massive margin of twenty-two points, capped off with A 6-0 win at home on the same night that bitter rivals Dundalk are confined to the doldrums of the First Division. We didn't win it in the prettiest, or most appealing way but we got it done and that is what matters. It's a vitally important offseason ahead and one that we have to get right and learn from the mistakes of the last time we were in this position. We need to get every aspect of our offseason right as the League of Ireland is open now more than ever, so we have to make sure we are not at the foot of the table come October 2025. We now look ahead to the 2025 season, and let's hope we have a much more enjoyable return to the Premier Division than the last.