By Gerard Mulreaney (@gerardmulreaney)
The League of Ireland season kicks-off tomorrow afternoon as Dundalk and Cork City do battle in the President’s Cup, a pre-season game between the League winners and FAI Cup winners (or in this case Cup runners-up) at Oriel Park. It’s the third straight year that both sides will feature in the Presidents Cup.
Having finished runners-up to Cork in both the league and Cup Stephen Kenny’s men will be looking for an early season edge. However, the game will be played under a cloud, with the news last night of former Cork player Liam Miller’s passing after he lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at the very young age of 36.
In tribute to the clubs former midfielder, City boss John Caulfield said, “I think everyone is shocked and saddened. While we have known that he was very sick, we are just thinking of his family, particularly his wife and three kids. When he was here his two sons, Corey and Leo, used to be at training quite a bit. It does put everything into perspective. It’s hard to imagine what has happened just three years after he was here.”
“He got to the highest level, winning international caps and playing for some big clubs. He was so modest, nothing ever went to his head. He came in every day and trained; a lovely person with a great attitude, a down to earth, humble guy.”
The manager has also confirmed that goalkeeper Mark Mcnulty won’t be traveling to Dundalk after the passing of his childhood friend Miller, so new signing Peter Cherrie will start the game.
Dundalk goalkeeper Gary Rogers said that they’re ready to start the season with a win, and a trophy, “Everyone’s really looking forward to Sunday’s game. We obviously want to put in a good performance against Cork and it will be a really good indication of where we’re at for the season.”
“We’ve had a really good pre-season. We’ve played well against some good opposition. If we can go into the Cork game and pick up a win there it would set us up nicely for Bray at home and the start of the league season. We’re looking forward to getting going.”
Like everyone else involved with football in Ireland Gary was shocked to learn of Liam Millers death saying that the midfielder was, “taken far too young.”
When speaking to the press earlier in the week City boss John Caulfield said, “We have prepared well all week. It is the game before the start of the season and these games have been very competitive in the last couple of years, and I would expect it to be the same again. With a number of new players coming into both teams, it is about how quickly the teams settle. The new lads have settled in well and we are pleased with that also. We will get a better idea tomorrow but, from our point of view, we have had a very good pre-season and this is a great game to have. Dundalk will also have some new faces in their squad, as do we, so it will be an interesting game.”
Ahead of the game the Football Association of Ireland have confirmed that there will be a minutes silence in memory of Liam Miller prior to kick-off.
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