CORK CITY HAVE grown accustomed to getting the better of Dundalk over the past two seasons, but City manager John Caulfield says his side will need to be at their very best to retain the FAI Cup at the Lilywhites’ expense in Dublin this weekend.
For the third season in a row, the SSE Airtricity League’s top two teams will face each other in the decider. The latest episode in the Cork-Dundalk rivalry will take place this Sunday afternoon at the Aviva Stadium, where kick-off is scheduled for 3.30pm.
City ended Dundalk’s three-year reign of dominance in the Premier Division earlier this month by capturing their first top-flight title since 2005. Victory this weekend would secure a first double for the club in their 33-year history.
“It’s our third year in a row playing against each other and we’ve been the two standout teams for the last number of years,” said Caulfield, who signed a new contract yesterday which will keep him at the helm at Turner’s Cross for two more years.
“In the club’s history, you don’t get an opportunity to win a league title too often, never mind have the opportunity to go for a double. The players are all focused and we know what we have to do. We’re both very experienced teams. We just know that we have to play really, really well. If we do that we have a right chance.
“This year we’ve proven we’re the better side. But at the same time, if we don’t play up to scratch we’re not going to win. Dundalk have been in great form for the last two months so we’re well aware of that.”
At the club’s FAI Cup final media event yesterday at the Cork International Hotel, Caulfield said he hopes to have a clean bill of health in his squad for Sunday’s game. Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny will issue an update from his camp when the Lilywhites face the media at Oriel Park this morning.
Sunday’s game will be the 10th meeting of the two sides since the beginning of last season. With seven wins, one draw and just one defeat from the previous nine encounters, the balance of power has certainly resided in Cork recently.
However, Sean Maguire’s departure at the end of July is a key consideration in the future of this rivalry. The striker, who joined City from Dundalk and hit an extra-time winner in last year’s FAI Cup final, scored seven goals in eight appearances against his former club before joining Preston North End.
The form book also favours Dundalk. While last Friday’s 1-0 victory over Bray Wanderers was Cork City’s only win in their final seven league games, Dundalk have lost just once in their last 17 competitive outings — a run that extends back to July.
When asked if his side’s recent record against Dundalk will give them a psychological advantage, Caulfield said: “If you look at last year’s cup final, we went in after they had beaten us a few weeks beforehand in a league decider. But there’s no doubt that I suppose both teams fancy themselves.
“There’s a lot of confidence within our own team, but at the same time it is a one-off game. The fact that we’ve had the upper hand this year certainly would give us a lot of confidence, there’s no doubt about that. But at the same time we know Dundalk are a confident group as well so I think it’ll be a close game.”
He has a point regarding pin placements but as it was the same for both teams there is a hint of sour grapes about it.
@Ronan Doyle: exactly , sour grapes. Same for everyone Im afraid. Suck it up Justin.
Difference is, when your going for a win you have to play differently and be more aggressive compared to defending a lead.
We clearly need a Brexit for our Ryder cup team. Doing fine with the rest of the nationalities.
@Johnnathan Biskalero: That course was set up like a pay for play, keep them moving, can’t lose a ball, hit it anywhere you want, hen run. That’s the PGA of America business and having lost on proper Professional tournament courses they had to make it easy and hope for the best.
Can’t wait to see how they handle the Golf national de Paris, a proper Course that’ll be set up for a professional tournament.
That’s what I love about the Ryder cup. The captains lay out their own course. McGinley done the best job ever of this. Narrow fairways, thick rough, lots of run-offs the greens. US just did the same this time. Huge fairways for their big hitters to let loose on. Also why Rory done so well also.
Unfortunately Darren let personal friendships get in the way cold calculated decisions on his picks,I wouldn’t have Lee Westwood in my Sun fourball.
Did well James, that’s why Rory did well.
@David Hanlon: how Knox never made the team is a joke…….world ranked 47 gets picked ahead of him & he’s at 19…..make no sense…
Rose is right. When you’re well up going into the final days singles and it’s set up with easy pins it leaves very few opportunities to force mistakes from the leading team. I thought they were easy pins.
They were easy pins but stupid of Rose to complain. It’s just one of several advantages the home team gets and which Europe will have in 2018.
I wondered how Sergio hit a 63 in the singles and only secured a half against big Phil! Two golfing gladiators all the same, providing great entertainment.
However, it’s the host’s prerogative as to pin positions on any Ryder Cup day. All part of the strategy to outfox the opponent, which the yanks did with aplomb.
Rose isn’t a sour grapes kinda guy; just telling it honestly as he saw it.
A USA win is good for the bi annual contest, given our treble success to 2014, and with their team members’ superior world rankings, US ran to form on this occasion.
Roll on Paris 18…
Justin..just bring your putter next time buddy and things will be fine!!
Too many Englishmen in the team. All 6 were defeated last night. Maybe the qualifying criteria needs to be looked at
According to world rankings Europe had 4 players better then 4 others. Alex noren Shane Lowry Russell Knox and Casey are all better ranked then Fitzpatrick Sullivan Westwood and kaymer
@Barry Newell: no issue with Fitzpatrick & Sullivan getting in but Westwood & Kaymer are not playing well enough at the moment…
If the pins were easy why did he not get more birdies ? Get over it Justin you lost fair and square.
Is it not the PGAs right as hosts to do as they see fit to help the US team? Also if the pins were easier then why didn’t Europe make more birdies. Needs to pipe down and except the loss. The US played well & majority of the Europe team didn’t turn (Westwood leading that pack).
Roll on France in 2 years. Bring back McGinley.
The English putted like a pro am
Paul McGinley openly admitted that he got gleneagles set up exactly like a European tour event in 2014 to suit his team. Oak hill was set up us open style in 1995 and the belfry once cut down their rough so that seve Ballesteros could play in the early 90s. Nothing new and complaining about it is sour grapes. Truth is you can’t lose a session 4-0 or carry passengers like Westwood if you expect to win.
Not sure of the logic here, if it was so easy why did he miss so many putts.
What a cry baby…let’s face it Europe were absolutely crap on the first day and that’s what caught them out. Likes it’s the pins fault the European players couldn’t play the game as well as the Americans.
He’s basically saying he can’t putt