Caulfield delighted as City go top

John Caulfield was in a jubilant mood following Cork City’s 1-0 win over Bohemians in Turners Cross last night speaking to the media. The win over Bohemians puts Cork City back on top of the SSE Airtricity League table for the first time since the 25th of April where they drew 1-1 with Bohemians.

“We’ve had a really hard last eight or nine weeks, we have to keep the pressure on, we had to win games. Obviously we won quite a few 1-0 but with the crowd and everything the lads were quite nervous. Bohs played quite well for the first half but we were fortunate to go in at half time 1-0 up. The second half the lads came out and tore into Bohs. We would have liked to have got the second goal just to ease the nerves but to be fair we created three or four really good chances”.

He said many weeks ago in one of his press conferences that all he and his side could do was keep winning and to hopefully fulfil their side of the bargain. He praised the large home support that again turned out in their numbers to watch his side play and contributed to a great atmosphere. The numbers who have now entered Turners Cross this year above 64,000 to put it the best attended ground in the league.

“As I said we brought it to the last game of the season. Credit to the lads, great passion, heart and desire fantastic for 6,500 people to turn up in very wet conditions, tremendous support and now were on the road to Dundalk next week”.

The goal by Billy Dennehy to win the game in the first half was described by Caulfield as a goal that made good use of the elements.

“It was a dangerous free kick and with the swirling wind it was a hard one for the keeper to save.”

Since the defeat to Dundalk on the 1st of August Cork City has been unbeaten claiming 26 out of a possible 30 points in the league.

“26 points is a great turnaround, we’ve been unbeaten since Dundalk came down here and beat us. We’ve had to knuckle down and there is great character in the team”.

But Caulfield knows it’s all about the team and the importance of a strong squad with him praising the players over their ability to come in and replace others who might miss out due to suspension etc.

“Fellows get injured, others get suspended, people come in like yesterday Ross went over on his ankle and Michael McSweeney came in and did a very good job. It’s a tribute to the way the lads were playing. Gearóid has been out the past two or three weeks but John Kavanagh has come in and did fantastic. We’ve had quite a few lads who’ve come in and out and that is a real credit to the lads”.

The determination in Caulfield is best shown when he mentions next week’s trip up to Oriel Park where the men from the smallest county will do battle with the men from the biggest county for the title.

“Next week we head up to Dundalk, very difficult place, plastic pitch. Everybody thinks their name is on the cup, maybe it is but we’ll go up there and we’ll give it a go and we’ll have a right good cut of it.”

John Caulfield has constantly played down their chances this year as is his style but he must be feeling confident going into the game.

“There at home, the plastic pitch suits them. But then our lads have been fantastic and they keep coming back despite being knocked by so many people and written off by many others. We’ll go up to Dundalk and have a go off it. If we’re good enough, well and good and if not we’ll shake their hands like such good sports people we are”.

Regarding the injury situation for Ross Gaynor who was injured in training yesterday and Gearóid Morrissey who has been out for the past few games Caulfield answered back  

“Don’t know about Ross or Gearóid with it being a plastic pitch etc”.