Tim Clancy counting on potent strike duo Sean Maguire and Ruairí Keating to propel Cork City hopes

Since Cork City were relegated from the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division at the end of the 2020 season, they have endured a frustrating existence with their last top-flight stay in the interim lasting just one season.

But with the firepower that manager Tim Clancy can call upon for 2025, there are hopes that the three-time league champions can set deeper roots in the Premier Division this time.

Former Republic of Ireland and Preston North End striker Sean Maguire and fellow forward Ruairí Keating both enjoyed prolific past spells at Cork respectively and having both rejoined City last summer, Clancy is counting on the duo to dovetail up front throughout the coming campaign after netting a combined 12 goals in the second half of last season's promotion push.

"The lads are really close off the pitch as well," Clancy said ahead of Friday's season opener at home to Galway United.

"Although they didn't play together, they have mutual friends which meant that they would have been speaking to each other for a lot of years.

"The relationship on the pitch? The benefit we had last year was we got the two of them in for the guts of four months at the end of the season and they played together.

"In pre-season so far, I think Keats has scored four or five goals and Seanie has got three or four as well.

"It's early, we haven't played the first league game yet but the lads are looking well. And we're hoping the relationship can grow from there."

Maguire still has plenty of gas in the tank at the age of 30 and while the days in which the striker won 11 senior international caps may be behind him, Clancy is in no doubt about the aura he brings on and off the pitch.

"He's still really driven," said the former St Patrick's Athletic and