Caul's City's Mauling at City Calling Stadium

It has been a mixed July for Cork City fans. First there was the excitement at being back in Europe for the first time since 2008 (and the first time under FORAS stewardship), but  the axing of star player Billy Dennehy and the subsequent European exit has seen things go somewhat sour on Leeside in the last ten days with some quarters even questioning John Caulfield’s role as manager.

If you were to have arrived at the City Calling Stadium on Saturday night however, you would have been greeted with a carefree Cork City performance; one that showed no sign of ‘pressure’ to win their game in hand over Dundalk, as they ruthlessly put Tony Cousins’ Longford Town to the sword.

After the game, Extratime.ie caught up with a relaxed Caulfield who had clearly enjoyed what he had just seen.

“We were delighted. We knew it would be difficult up here and we worked hard all week. We felt we could score a few goals, we got four and we probably had another four or five good chances. Obviously Mark [McNulty] had a very good save at half time and we’re disappointed to concede at the end but I think our passing was good and we gave a really good performance tonight.”

Cork City’s set pieces were to play a pivotal role in the match as the Rebel Army scored from their first and third corners of the game, and the City boss wasn’t underestimating the importance of this.

“Well look it, it’s part of the game. We work hard on all aspects of defending set pieces and scoring them. Every week the top teams are scoring them, I think the last week Dundalk scored two or three goals from set pieces. If you don’t stand up and defend you’re in trouble and we work hard at it. I suppose our delivery was very good and we got two good goals from it.

“In the second half we played very well and the passing was really good. We kept going and we stretched them and overall I think it was a convincing win.”

Perhaps it could be argued that a comprehensive win like this will help the Cork City players exorcise any European demons, but Caulfield wasn’t too sure.

“I don’t know. I think a lot has been made of it in the sense that we played a really good side. For some people, they seem to have assumed that we were going to win that game. We played a seeded team who have been in Europe thirteen out of fourteen years; they’re very established. There wasn’t much in the game, but over the two games they were probably better than us.

“At the same time, the league is your bread and butter and you have to get back into the league. That’s the one where you have a chance of winning trophies and that’s the one that can get us back into Europe.

“The last league game we were away to Derry and we gave a very good performance. Tonight we gave a better performance; we kept the ball better and I think Longford were chasing for a long time and from that point of view it was very pleasing.”

Undoubtedly the most pleasing part of the night for Cork City fans was seeing new signing Steven Beattie turn in a man of the match performance as well as grabbing a debut goal. Having tried to sign the Dubliner at the end of last season, Caulfield finally got his man when the transfer window opened and for him it was definitely worth the wait.

“Very happy for Steven, he’s exactly what we want. He’s great guy to have; he creates chances and he gets into the box. I’m delighted for him to get the goal and as I said, it was his first game playing against Liverpool last week and we took him off after about 60 minutes. It was his first league game in about five or six weeks tonight and by the end he was out on his feet.

“The team has taken to him straight away. He’s direct and he creates chances and he’s a nuisance really. We’ve been missing that and we needed that.”

With Dundalk not playing this weekend, the significance of Saturday night’s win was even greater as the Turner’s Cross side looked to close the gap at the top to six points and maintain pressure on Stephen Kenny’s men.

“It probably was in the sense that they’re nine ahead and we had a game in hand. But it was also important because Pats won last night and Rovers are on our tale and Bohs are still there. It was important for us to drive on and overall, I think we have scored a lot more goals than at this stage last year…we’ve conceded a lot less goals and we’ve a lot more points.

“Maybe in Cork, sometimes people are a little bit critical but we’re still second in the table and we’re doing fine and we got four goals away from home and things aren’t too bad.”

Finally, having seen a lot of Cork City this season, I put it to Caulfield that this was perhaps the most balanced his side has looked this season. In particular, ‘Johnny C’ saw all three of his forwards score.

“Well I’m happy because Karl Sheppard is our top goalscorer. He’s got 9 or 10 goals from play and he’s done great. I think he missed a couple of chances as well, but like any good striker, I keep saying that if you’re in there to miss them I don’t mind because you’re going to score some as well.

“We’ve had a problem with directness and people taking on fullbacks and he did great for us. And obviously with Mark, Mark works very hard and yes the three of them scored. I suppose the most important thing though is the team performance; the team were brilliant and they really worked hard and our retention of the ball was very good.

“Gavan Holohan came in and did great too; Johnny’s been out for a long long time and came back in. Overall it was just a really strong performance.”