Caulfield's Cork ready for title decider

John Caulfield spoke to Extratime.ie today in the build up to the Friday’s crucial league game away to Dundalk. Cork City will be going for their first league title in nine years and in Caulfield’s first season in charge that will be some achievement if City manages to do the job.

“It’s great; it’s been a long season. It’s fantastic like it has been a long season. We started so well early on. We had a bit of a blip but carried on and then we’ve come through another blip to be here. There’s great credit due to the lads, tremendous effort, heart and desire. The crowd kept the whole thing going and now were down to the last match and we’re in a situation where we could go and win the league.”

He praised his backroom staff for the way they had worked throughout the year.

“Bringing in Cott’s was a great addition along with Phil, while Billy was already here. I suppose all lads who put in the work. I’m a great believer in the saying that if all the lads put in the hard work and with a bit of ability anything is possible.

“Did I expect to be in this position at the start of the season? Well I certainly thought midway through that we had a good chance to stay in there and hang on for contention. That night we left Athlone after the 2-2 draw I felt their name was on the Cup with them winning 3-2.  Everybody said it was all over but I said if everybody took it day-by-day then we’d a chance.”

The manager has prepared his team well for this week’s clash by training on Coláiste Stiofán Naofa’s plastic pitch in order to be ready for this week’s match.

“This week were training on an all-weather pitch and the crucial thing is to get used to the pace and bounce of the ball. It’s slower than being on grass. It will have a different bounce and different pace but at the end of the day we are a group of tremendously fit players who work so hard but at the same time I felt it’s wrong to be playing on a plastic pitch.

“We won’t be making any excuses about it as we know what to expect and at the end of the day I believe we are well capable of putting in a top class performance. If we win it’s the league and if not we shake their hands but I believe if we put in a top performance we’ll win the league.”

The Cork City manager has a few injury concerns ahead of the game most notably Josh O’Shea, Ross Gaynor and Gearóid Morrissey and he outlined whether he thought they would be playing.

“Colin Healy should be able to play, he had a problem with recovery on the other games but after Friday they can go on holidays so that’s not a problem. We’re hoping Josh O’Shea will be fully recovered; Ross is 50/50 while Gearóid is also 50/50. A call will be made Friday morning. It’s tough on Ross going over on his ankle last Thursday but he desperately wants to play having already won the league with Sligo in the past.”

He was quick to mention the team element saying when you’re missing one player another player fills in the role very well.

“Last week we were missing Ross but Michael McSweeney came into the role and had a brilliant game.”

He urged the supporters to be into the ground early before and make a lot of noise so as to inspire his team onto victory.

“I’ve no doubt our support will be phenomenal and I’d like to say to them to get into the ground early. Be careful because Dundalk is a nice town but it’s a big town and I hope they all stick together. I hope we can get the right result and send the supporters home happy.

“We’re not going to have any excuses in the build-up to the game as we’re going out to win a game.”