Greg Cunningham has more reason than most to be fired up for the new season. An injury towards the back end of last season saw the Irish international miss out on three crucial ties just as his form was flying. Nonetheless, he is confident in his fitness as the new season approaches.
“I feel really good. [The injury] just stopped me in my tracks. It was disappointing, the timing. I’ve been around the game a long time. I know how my body is, I know how to get it back. I’ve probably had to bounce back too many times in my career, but at this stage, when you do pick up something, it comes in handy in terms of what to do and what not to do.
“It was a busier Christmas than I probably would have liked but it kept me honest, and I’ve just been plugging away in the off-season. I’ve come back in pre-season feeling good and ready to go for the season ahead.
“I’m hoping to be in contention [for Cork]. We’ll sit down and whatever John decides to do, that’s the manager’s decision. I’m feeling good. I’m excited to get the first full season in the League of Ireland under my belt.”
There are many indicators of the improving standards around the club, not least Cunnigham’s mere presence given his pedigree. A warm weather training camp in Malaga was also a welcome addition to the pre-season programme.
“It’s great to get away as a squad. It’s the only real chance that players can get fully invested in what we are about. The new boys can gel quickly. We are around each other 24/7. It builds massive chemistry, a lot of team bonding. When you are working hard together, we were put through our paces out there.
It sounds like a great holiday camp but the change of scenery and getting the boys together is brilliant. You can manipulate the schedule whatever way you want because we are all under one roof. I thought it went really well. We’ve all come back stronger and fitter for it.”
Having learned his trade with Cregmore/Claregalway and Mervue United, there is a special symbolism for the left-back in his new position as first-team captain. In a team filled with leaders such as Brendan Clarke and Conor McCormack, to name just two, it has much meaning for Cunningham.
“It’s a massive honour. It was unexpected but it’s an honour for me to represent my hometown club. It’s been a dream of mine. As your career goes on, you never really know if that is going to happen. I am very grateful to John for giving me the armband.
Nothing will change with me, I’ve always been the same. The only thing is, I get to lead the boys out and that’s a great honour. We’ve got a senior leadership group and that almost does the captain’s role. There are a few of us in that group that sort of dictate what goes on and everyone’s on board with it. For me to walk out, in Eamonn Deacy Park, leading the boys out, that’s a memory that will last a long time.”
For the league more broadly, it is an exciting prospect that Cunningham could be thrust into battle against his former Preston and Ireland teammate, Seanie Maguire. Aged 34 and 30 respectively, both will feel they have plenty to left to achieve in the game.
“I’ve had a good few years with Seanie. Still keep in contact. I was trying to get him to come here when he was coming back! He’s down there now, it looks like he is banging the goals in during pre-season so he will be a big threat for them. That’s the Seanie that I know as a player. He just didn’t get the rub of the green for different reasons over in England.
It’s a case where it’s horses for courses and he seems to have found his feet very quickly at Cork. He will be a big threat. For both of us, it will be business as usual come game time, but it will be good to catch up with him after. He’s got a young family, so we have a lot in common. He’s a great lad and a great player.”
The motivation is clear for a self-confessed homebird. Despite a prestigious move to Manchester City and a distinguished career in the Championship and Premier League, Cunningham has never forgotten his roots. He spoke passionately about the motivation in the group.
“There’s great drive. Everyone has their individual motivations. That comes collectively to winning games for this football club. Whether boys want to do really well to get a move elsewhere, for myself it’s a case where I can give back to the city that’s provided so much for me. Everyone has their own motivation. At the end of the day, it’s about performing to the maximum of your ability, doing everything you can for this club and that will get us where we want to go.
“We are in it together. We have learned over the last year that we haven’t got the rub of the green at times for different reasons and maybe that is because you are not in the east of the country. But we have a real fire in our belly to prove people wrong and more to prove what we are about to everybody else because we know what we are capable of.”
