27 August 2015
By Bryan Smyth
bryan@TheCork.ie
Striker Karl Sheppard scored ten league goals so far this season, has extended his stay on Leeside until the end of the 2017 season and he told reporters of his ambitions with the club: “I’m delighted to have signed; I think this year has gone well for me and the club is going in the right direction, so it is something I want to be a part of. I think it is the best dressing room I have been in my seven or eight year as a professional player; I have been in a lot of dressing rooms and this is the best one by far. ”
“I’m happy enough with how the season has gone, obviously I would like to chip in with a few more goals between now and the end of the season, but I think it is something to build on and look to have an even better season next year. In the league, we just have to keep chipping away, there is a long way to go. We have to try and get as many points as we can and, if Dundalk slip up, be there to take advantage. We have a tough draw in the cup, but hopefully we can go up there and get into the next round.
When asked about next season, the attacker was clear in his aims: “I will be aiming for that twenty goal mark again and, for the club, I want us to go on and win the league. John has big plans for next year and I think we will be trying to win every competition we go into.”
Commenting on the news, manager John Caulfield said: “I am very pleased to have Shep sign back. He took a gamble coming down to us as he had other offers in Dublin, but he has done fantastic for us. He has ten league goals to date, despite not playing directly up top which would be his favourite position, but he has done great for us.”
“He loves the area, he loves the supporters and he can see that things are being right here. He believes that, as a club, we are going from strength to strength and it is great to have him tied up. I feel he has had a great season and I think the best is still to come from him.”
“We have good lads here; all we ask is for fellas to come in with the right attitude and work hard. We try to do things as professionally as we can and we think we are doing that. We are always striving to improve; from my point of view and that of the management, we are here to drive the club forward and make the club better. We want to make the club as successful and as stable as we can. With a combination of our own young players coming through and bringing in players from the outside like Shep. I think our fans can see how valuable he has been and I think he is only going to get better.”
Sheppard will be in the City squad for tomorrow night’s tie against his former club Galway United at Turner’s Cross, kick-off 7.45 pm.
