Cork City boss hails ‘stand-out’ Schull soccer star Hurley

CORK City boss Neale Fenn has hailed Ronan Hurley as a ‘stand-out performer’ after the Schull soccer star signed a new deal with the club.

Hurley’s impressive performances in the 2019 campaign were one of the few positives that City could take from a forgettable season. The West Cork man caught the eye at left back in the City defence and he has been rewarded with a new contract, having signed his first professional contract with the club late last year.

‘Ronan was a stand-out performer last season and cemented his place in the team. He is hard-working, a good lad and wants to improve, so he is just the kind of player we want at the club,’ City boss Fenn said.

‘Ronan is a very good player, he is tenacious, he likes to attack, and he is very good on the ball. Like I said when I got the job, we want good, hungry young players to take the team forward, and I am very pleased that we have most of them signed up already. I am really looking forward to working with them in January, getting them going and hopefully kicking on from there.’

Twenty-year-old Hurley, a product of Bunratty United in the West Cork Schoolboys League, has graduated out of City’s academy to become an important member of the club’s first-team squad. From his debut in 2018, Hurley has become a regular this year and now he wants to kick on in 2020.

‘I’m buzzing to sign back. Last year was my first year as a professional, so I will be looking to push on in the coming season. I got some game time under my belt last season, and I want more of that next season,’ West Cork man Hurley said.

‘The number of young players coming into the first team shows the quality of the management at underage level, like Colin Healy and Richie Holland at U19 level. It also shows the quality of player that is there, and that Neale will give young players a chance.’