KARL SHEPPARD GOT his Cork City tally up and running on Tuesday night but believes his best is still to come.
The striker, who scored in the 2-0 win over his former club Galway United at Turner’s Cross, joined the Leesiders from Shamrock Rovers back in November after being persuaded to make the move by the words of manager John Caulfield.
“When I spoke to John he was very straightforward with me and that is what I liked,” Sheppard told The42. “He thought I was a good player but almost had a little pop and said I wasn’t playing to the level that I should be at Shamrock Rovers and I wasn’t getting regular games.
“He told me that if I came down and worked hard he would give me the chance and if I was performing I would play. I think that is what any player wants to hear. His honesty and how he spoke about the passion of the fans down here is what really got me.”
Sheppard was part of Hoops’ title-winning side in 2011 and played a pivotal role in their run to the Europa League group stages before making a dream move to Reading the following year.
The switch didn’t work out, however, and the former Ireland U21 international was loaned out to Accrington Stanley. A return to the League of Ireland followed as he rejoined Rovers, initially on loan, and spent two years back in Tallaght without setting the world alight under Trevor Croly and, last season, Pat Fenlon.
Sheppard admits he hasn’t been firing on all cylinders in recent times and the chance to make a fresh start with the Rebels appealed to him. Life has begun well under Caulfield and, having come close against Limerick and Shamrock Rovers, he found the back of the net earlier this week.
“I’m a striker and I like to score goals but for me it’s about putting your head down and trying to get into the team every week,” he says. “If I’m playing well hopefully the goals will come.
“I had a few chances against Limerick and was disappointed that I didn’t take one, then I had one against Rovers but I knew that if I was getting in the right places and making chances then the goal would always come and thankfully I got off the mark against Galway. Even better, we got three points.”
With two wins and two draws in the opening three weeks of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division season, Cork have begun the season relatively well and can close the gap at the top with a win over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds tonight.
“We’re happy enough with how things are going so far,” Sheppard explains. “We would probably like to get a few more goals and points on the board but we’re ticking over nicely.
We’re not as direct as they were last year and we’re starting to play some nice football. But we’re not afraid to mix it up and we are turning times and getting an early ball in behind them, which is what I enjoy as it suits me better.
“We can also pass it and have great players like (Liam) Miller, (Colin) Healy, (Garry) Buckley and (Gavan) Holohan in midfield. That is some serious quality in there.
“We want to go up there and get three points but we know it won’t be easy and I’ve had many games where Bray are sitting back and hitting you on the break. We won’t be underestimating how good a side they can be on their day.”
A player with a wealth of experience, you would be forgiven for forgetting that Sheppard only turned 24 last month. The plan is to give absolutely everything to making this season a success, but if the opportunity to go back across the water was arose, he would be open to having another crack at it.
“When I was speaking to John he was saying that I need to get playing regularly if I want to get back over (to England) and that is something I want to look at if I have a good year.
“I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity but I need to just get my head down and work hard this season then maybe worry about that at the end of the year. I haven’t been burned by my past experiences so it is definitely something I would look at again.”
SSE Airtricity League fixtures
Premier Division – 7.45pm Friday unless stated
- Derry City v Drogheda United
- Dundalk v Sligo Rovers
- Galway United v Longford Town
- Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians (8pm)
- Bray Wanderers v Cork City (5.45pm, Saturday)
- Limerick v St Patrick’s Athletic (6.30pm, Saturday)
First Division – 8pm Friday unless stated
- Cabinteely v Waterford United (7.45pm)
- Finn Harps v Cobh Ramblers
- Shelbourne v Athlone Town
- Wexford Youths v UCD
About winning the all Ireland “why wouldn’t we”.They were 7-8pts up in 2012 and had to cone from two points down to draw it.In the replay they were 5 or 6pts up early on and ended up getting bet out the gates.In 2014 they were in the clear with 15mins to go against Tipp only for them to have a dramatic collapse and loose by a huge margin(about 17pt turnaround in them 15mins) and then in the all Ireland this they were utterly spineless when had to step up.”why wouldn’t we”………after we just stabbed our manager in the back.That sickens me.And I’m a Kilkenny fan,I shouldn’t be hopping around delighted but when you see this crap happening it would vex you,no matter where your from.I really hope this isn’t the last we have seen of Cunningham as a manager with a top team
“I should” instead of “I shouldn’t”
Maybe ye could give Anthony some work in Kilkenny?
What are you talking about, as a manager you are judged on success. Cody knows this. Do you think he’d be still there if he hadn’t won an all ireland in 5 years? The players were asked to vote and they voted, simple as. I would trust a players opinion over administrators from clubs, wouldn’t you? They’re actually dealing with the manger on a daily basis. These players have short careers and are putting their necks on the line and striving for success. A new manager will prob drop some of these players, so it’s definitely not self serving
Yeah but im adiment Galway’s failings isn’t his fault.I think the blame is with the players and their actions on the pitch.Did you see the wides they got in the in the second half of this years final when it was theres for the taking…….like tell me what Anthony can do to stop them missing handy points from 30yards in the front if the posts.What can he do if they just get trampled on by tipp last year.Cody wouldn’t go that long without one because KK players are actual men,they are united and will suck it up,shut up and work harder than ever when they have setbacks(eg 2010,everyone including myself though Kilkenny were spent,what happened??………..they worked like dogs and won back what they wanted most) I don’t think the Kilkenny players care who manages them,they just want to work and win.Galway on the other hand wanted to find a certain someone to blame and say that they needed a change………even though they SHOULD have winning the all Ireland in 12 and 15
Would have, should have, could have.. simple fact is they didn’t. Winning can involve small margins but it’s everything. Time and again Cody’s teams have found what’s needed to win tight games regardless of personnel at his disposal. Time is moving on for some of these Galway players and close moral victories don’t amount to anything at the end. It would be wrong to say nothing and keep the head down and not achieve anything again next year when there were doubts there
is that what you think? that’s great!
Yes……they didnt!that’s exactly my point.Anthony can’t be blamed as its the players on the pitch that lost the games.I was just explaining all the times they cramped up and lost major games.I don’t think people had doubt’s about him as 99% of people around the country are calling this a joke of a move from the galway players.Them players can’t be living in a bubble so much that they don’t realise how good he is,they are just running away from the sad and blatant truth of the times that they chocked
So what happens if the new manager whoever he comes in & decides that 5 or 6 players on the panel are not in his plans do they throw a strop again . We’re still waiting to hear why exactly the galway players wanted rid of cunningham . A few silly storys Leaked out about his lack of tactics or man management skills were like something 14 year old kids would come out with . The truth about galway hurlers lies in the row at half time in the all ireland final (even though its being denied ) a player that was taken off early in the 1st half threw a strop because of his own personal situation rather than think of his county or his team hoping to win an all ireland for the 1st time in 27 years . That scenario sums up the mentality of galway players. Players behind the scenes who were not picked were stirring things up because they were not playing even though. Players that were picked ahead of them won all stars .
The new manager would be perfectly entitled to drop any players he wanted, particular considering the players themselves gave him the mandate to do so. Are you seriously saying the players would “throw a strop”as you put it and that anyone would support it? And anyway why is voting on a manager after 4 years termed a “strop”
Why bother giving players a vote at all if there’s only one acceptable result?
So much anger Ionathan ! Kilkenny will always be competitive, as they’re basically the All Blacks of hurling and in this era ye have had the Alex Ferguson equivalent also…. Let’s see how how smooth things go when Cody moves on…. BTW your talking through your arse about Cunningham… Nice guy though … There in lies the problem… Signed Frustrated Galway man
Yeah Im sorry if I came across as a sorta uppy talking about Kilkenny but I’m just using them as an example.I fully accept that Cody will leave an gaping hole that will be impossible to fill but I was just pointing out that even without Cody I think all great teams in all sports are very united and be very critical of themselves if they don’t preform.They would feel more shame than being sad(2010 u will see from interviews that it was the shame of their performance that killed the players most),it was more if a revolt this year than shame with galway.I don’t know how I’m talking through my arse about Cunningham though as the majority of people agree that he was hard done by
It’s a results business, I’m sure not everyone in Galway think he’s hard done by
This sort of thing happens in every County, except the respective County Boards grab hold of it and deal with it before it becomes a media circus normally, it should have been dealt with internally and no one should have known that there was a problem
I’m not sure it does happen in every county, if you’re Tipp, cork, Galway, Kilkenny etc with decent teams then your fans expect success, if it doesn’t come after 3 or 4 years pressure builds on the manager, in Tipp’s case managers have gone quickly of their own choosing, sometimes too quickly. For instance oShea would be gone now whether they won an all ireland or not, just like Sheedy left as a winning manager
Looking at this exhibition match …Tactically Galway defence is a joke… With or without a manager.
What is consistent is that Skehill is a loose cannon. Why Cunningham brought him back at all amazes me.
Rousing speech Conor !! Well said Sir !! BTW since you have the inside line why did Sheedy leave Tipp after 2010. Was it the old ” work commitmentsorooney” line ?
Whatever the reason was for Sheedy he left gracefully with his head held high and his integrity intact, it never turned out to be a sorry debacle and shambles that the Galway County Board has let this circus turn into.
Did think it was odd at the time that sheedy walked away from that team, they looked st the time like they would kick on to more AI’s
I dont know why sheedy left maybe he saw that to beat the greatest team ever took a monumental effort & players playing at the very best of their ability .maybe he thought he couldnt give that commitment or reach that acheivement again . Hes the only manager to have led his team to victory over this kilkenny jugernaught on all ireland final day .who knows maybe hes going to take the galway job
It’s all about the money, sheedy didn’t have a cosy teaching job, he saw opportunities coming up in rte and within the bank opening up on the back of his success, is it right that he took those opportunities? It certainly hurt tipp hurling but I can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same
So he had the rte gig guaranteed did he ?
Aw Hon D Mines your comments makes me laugh ! If you only knew… Shur Tipp really kicked on from there alright… Lar Corbett following Tommy Walsh round croke park… (Q Bennie Hill music)…
What has that debacle got to do with off field problems, Is it just your sad way of trying to drag an individuals name through the mud, youre dragging up something that bears no similarities towhat is happening in galway
If they can reach an all-Ireland final with a manager they wanted rid of before the summer, they could definitely do it again with the man they do want…BUT…if they don’t, well then they will just have to start taking the blame themselves. All eyes on them next year.
I think that’s a reflection on the competition rather than the brilliance of Galway.
I.e Tipp and Cork are manure