Cork City – season preview 2025
March 2nd, 2025by Kieran Burke
With out any bias at all, Cork City FC's rise back to power in 2025 was one of the top feel good stories of the season with all the drama, colour and excitement associated with Turners Cross back on show after some difficult recent years for the Munster while the First Division title triumph of 2025 remains fresh in the minds of the Turner Cross faithful, the era of Tommy Dunne was a bumpy one with the current Galway FC boss eventually leaving his post as manager in August 2025.
The head scratching had begun as names began to be thrown around in regards to Dunne's replacement, Stuart Ashton held the reins in the mean time as interim but it was to be club legend, John Caulfield who would eventually answer the call.
Having made almost 500 appearances as a player for City and scoring 129 goals in the process, Caulfield came with the full backing of the Shed and that's without even mentioning his wonderful record at underage management level, producing many big names in Irish football.
With 2025 being Caulfield's first season in charge of a senior club at this level, expectations were of a level-headed nature on Leeside with a challenge on a top 6 position and perhaps a cup run what most CCFC fans were hoping for.
However, it soon became apparent that something special was brewing in the City as packed out house after packed out house kept coming back to watch a winning Cork side. This was far from the most exciting City side to watch in history but what John Caulfield could offer the public was a totally committed and passionate outfit.
Heart will only get you so far though and the quality Cork City possessed all over the park was there to see, right from the back starting with the leagues best performing 'keeper In Mark McNulty to veteran midfielder, Colin Healy and of course, one of the league's most exciting new strikers, Mark O'Sullivan, this Cork City side was a match for anyone.
Even after the final whistle sounded on that faithful concluding night in Oriel Park, the initial disappointment of losing a league deciding match up was overcome with feelings of pure pride from the travelling Cork City contingent, a clear message was sent out to the league last season and that message was the real Cork City are back!
So what of the Rebels chances for 2025? Experience looks to be the name of the game for John Caulfield this season as he set the gauntlet out with a number of eye-catching signings over the course of the offseason.
The main headline grabber of the five additions made by City of course comes
