(c) by Robert Cox 2013

Kilcock man Ciaran Kilduff has proved he will be a key player for Cork City for the rest of the 2013 season with three goals for the club since his arrival on loan from Shamrock Rovers.
The 24-year-old who joined the Leesiders in early July, became Tommy Dunne’s first signing of the summer transfer window and adds to Dunne’s attacking options.

Image courtesy of Blink of an Eye Photography

Since his arrival, Kilduff has netted three crucial goals as he strives to help a City side, who currently lie in 7th place, climb up the league table. The first of those three strikes came on his debut against the league champions Sligo Rovers at Turners Cross when Kilduff re-established City’s two-goal cushion when he poked the ball home from close range after a mix up between the Rovers keeper and his centre half. The goal ensured all three points stayed on Leeside as the game ended in a 3-1 win for City. His second goal came on Friday the 19th of July and again at Turners Cross, this time against second placed Dundalk. Kilduff’s goal along with a spot kick from Daryl Kavanagh came within two minutes of giving Cork City a third consecutive home win but they had to settle for a 2-2 draw with the all-whites from Louth. His goal came after only three minutes when he latched onto a quickly taken free kick by Neal Horgan to steer a superb volley past Dundalk goalie Peter Cherrie. Kilduff”s third goal in four league games came on Friday last away to league leaders St.Pats. His strike gave his side a surprise lead and came totally against the run of play. Unfortunately for Kilduff and Cork, the home side rallied back to win the game 2-1.

The 24-year-old former Kilcock Celtic player was on the fringes of the squad at Tallaght Stadium, and will bring firepower to a City side who have averaged less than a goal per game this season. Kilduff is contracted to the Hoops until the end of 2014, but has rarely featured in the starting XI this year after Trevor Croly brought in Mark Quigley and Karl Sheppard.

City boss Dunne signed Kilduff to help boost his sides ailing season that had seen 3-0 defeats to UCD and Drogheda United just before Kilduff’s arrival. Dunne said: “I’m delighted to bring in a player of Ciarán’s quality. He’s been in the league for a while and he is renowned for scoring goals.
“We need a bit more mobility and physicality up front and he gives us that. He’s a fit lad and we are hoping that he will bring some badly needed goals to the side, because we have not been scoring enough goals.”He wants to play; he’s hungry and he’s ready, so I know that he will definitely enhance our group.” Kilduff has certainly repaid Dunne’s faith and results have improved since his arrival with four points taken from champions Sligo and second placed Dundalk.

                     

Kilduff played schoolboys football for Clane United and Kilcock Celtic before signing for Maynooth Town. He then joined Shamrock Rovers at U16 level and progressed through to the U21’s. In May 2007 he made his debut for Rover’s first team at the Brandywell against Derry City. He went on to make four appearances that year.

In 2008 Kilduff went on loan to Kildare County where he scored 8 league goals in 35 appearances and was voted the club’s Player of the Year.

In 2009 Kilduff left Shamrock Rovers and signed for UCD. He scored 16 goals in 31 appearances as the ‘students’ lifted the First Division title and the following year he ended up with 15 Premier Division goals in 35 league appearances.

In January 2011 Kilduff returned to Shamrock Rovers, signing for manager Michael O’Neill. He found league starts hard to come by but still managed a total of 27 league appearances, albeit that 19 of those came from the bench, and six league goals. He made another 26 league appearances over the next eighteen months but never really nailed down a first team place and in July 2013 he signed a loan deal at Cork City.