Cork City's Maguire has sights firmly set on competing at top end of Premier Division

Those six years he spent in the UK since he left Cork City delivered splashes of happiness within a kaleidoscope of emotions. Maguire got to do what he aspired: play and score in the Championship and win Ireland caps, but the lowly spells of managerial instability and injuries cloud his memories.

Christmas day was usually spent training, staying in hotels, or both. St Stephen’s Day games on the road for Carlisle United presented the other side of glamour attached to being a professional.

He has no regrets, just a desire to confront what’s probably his last career move with the zeal he’s best remembered for.

City’s fans saw glimpses of that repertoire since he made his homecoming in July – three braces complemented by another goal on the final day – but 2025 is when the real business starts. 

Club owner Dermot Usher sanctioned summer moves for Maguire and Ruairí Keating with their return to the top-flight in mind.

“Those last couple of months with Cork were the happiest I’d been for almost three years, going back to 2021 with Preston North End,” Maguire said of his renaissance.

“No disrespect to the First Division but it’s a massive gulf to the Premier and we won’t have the ball as much.

“We know there’ll be big crowds of 6,000-7,000 back at Turner’s Cross but we want a quick start to get everybody behind us.” 

An opening day defeat in 2023 against Bohemians was arguably a setback City never recovered from. Just two wins were recorded in the opening 13 matches, leading to a change of manager but not fortunes. 

Relegation was confirmed in a playoff defeat to Waterford.

Sluggish recruitment and restrictive one-year deals were contributory factors to the malaise, first-year mistakes Usher rectified. By capturing two hometown heroes in the summer window, a headwind was started.

Around half of the First Division winning squad have been retained, including experienced midfielder Seán Murray on a permanent deal.

Two goalkeepers, Tein Troost and Conor Brann, were last week enlisted but Maguire expects to see more new faces around him when they resume full-time pre-season after Christmas.

“One of the first questions I asked was about plans for the Premier Division,” noted 11-times capped Maguire about his dealings with manager Tim Clancy last summer.

“I know Cork well from my previous time and have family but I wanted to be motivated about football too.

“It’s about doing well in the Premier Division, instead of just coming straight back down again, so I wanted to ask the question if we’re having a go over the next few years.

“Bringing Keats in too in the same week helped answer that question and I know the club are working hard on others.

“From speaking to Tim, he has players in the works and wants them sorted pre-season, There might be a few more after the English transfer window opens in January.

“We’ve brought in a brilliant young player in Alex Nolan. Now we just need the extra experience of lads who’ve been there and done that, who have the knowhow.” 

Maguire will be feeling the love when his Premier Division career resumes on Valentine's Night. 

He’s okay with feeling the pressure too, accepting the responsibility of leading the line in a 10-team division that offers four European qualification spots at the top and two relegation exit doors at the opposite end.

“We’ll have expectations within the group of what we can achieve but I think the main thing is being competitive,” the Kilkenny native predicted.

“That will be difficult because of how strong the league is but we want to compete at the top end.

“I watched a fair bit of the Premier last season and feel that Shelbourne’s title win will make this new campaign even more competitive. Shamrock Rovers will want to regain that title and other teams like St Patrick’s Athletic have strengthened.

“It’s all very exciting and where I want to be. I’m only 30 and hopefully, I still have a number of years ahead of me.” 

Come Christmas Day and he’ll be in the shadow of Turner’s Cross. While they await work on their new home in The Lough to be completed, Maguire is staying with the in-laws.

“It’s great that we’ll have the full day with our child on his first Christmas,” he says with a beaming smile. “I know we’ll get to enjoy the break but it won’t be long before I’m back on the pitch.

“After hardly played for six months in England before re-joining Cork, I didn’t want last season to end.” He’s got plenty to occupy him before the next one starts.