While it wasn't exactly a case of second-season syndrome - there were some bright spots and a second successive sixth-placed finish was achieved - there was certainly a sense that City were standing still rather than pushing on as hoped for, given the perceived size of the club.
A raft of late goals conceded could be viewed as an incredible run of back luck or else a sign of a severe lack of confidence within the team. Whatever the case, eventually the poor results saw manager Tommy Dunne dismissed in August, the day after a 2-1 loss to Limerick. That game had seen City wear their new white away kit with the home socks, the strip ordinarily all-white.
The launch of the white kit saw the previous red away (below left) relegated to the role of third choice. The only changes to that and the green home (above left) were the inclusion of a new league patch and an alteration to the shorts layout. UCC's Mardyke Arena was now the sponsor there, meaning that the crest was, oddly, moved to the left leg, above the Umbro logo, a configuration which was replicated on the white kit.
With on-loan striker Ciarán Kilduff forming a good partnership with Danny Morrissey and Stuart Ashton as caretaker manager, City finished the season strongly, culminating with a 4-2 win at home to newly-crowned champions St Patrick's Athletic. With legendary striker John Caulfield appointed as manager in late 2013, hopes were high that the following campaign would be better.
