DARYL KAVANAGH WANTS to fire Cork City back to the top of the Airtricity League — and revealed that he almost joined the Rebels before his move to Shamrock Rovers last year.

Kavanagh, 26, was officially presented today as City boss Tommy Dunne confirmed his first big-name capture of the off-season.

The Tipperary native had a year to forget in 2012 as he struggled to break into Rovers’ first team and watched his dream of a first league medal disintegrate along with the Hoops’ title defence.

Now Kavanagh is determined to get back to playing regular football after signing a two-year deal on Leeside.

“I was close enough to signing for the club last season but obviously I went to Shamrock Rovers,” the striker told CorkCityFC.net.

Last year was a strange one for me having played every week at Pat’s the previous season.  I’m happy when I’m playing regularly, and I am determined to play every week this year.

I’m raring to go now and I know if I am playing week-in, week-out that I can play as well as I did when I was at Pat’s.

He added: “Cork City has always been a massive club and I think the club is getting back to where it used to be.

“Having spoken to Tommy, I know that his aim is to get the club back to the top and that is my aim too.”

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