Cork City FC upbeat about forthcoming Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup Final

It was a very busy Turners Cross as Cork City FC hosted the nation’s media to kick start their Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup Final preparations. Manager John Caulfield and his team posed for photographs before advancing to the Cork International Hotel to the press conference.

"The last three matches we won away to Pat's, won away to Bohs and obviously the 2-2 draw with Dundalk,  it's been a strong finish and that's what we needed," Caulfield commented of Cork City’s form over recent weeks.

There was also good news on the injury front as he expects Colin Healy & Ross Gaynor to be fit despite picking up knocks against Bohemians

"As it’s the start of the week they are all being assessed, I certainly hope by the end of the week they will all be in contention. They both had strains but I don't think it's serious enough to keep them out."

The only player who will definitely miss out is full back John Kavanagh who has a calf strain.

Cork City FC last contested the final in 2007 where they beat Longford Town 1-0 at the RDS and Karl Sheppard knows the fans are pumped for the game when he spoke to extratime.ie.

"Everyone is buzzing for it really, obviously the last game we played was 2-2 a great game and I think that's one the fans will be hoping what it will be like. But to be honest I think it will be a bit tighter than that."

The Dublin born striker is also aware of the danger of Dundalk as he explained, "It's certainly a game that we are really looking forward too, we know that if we stand off them for the first twenty minutes like we did at home they'll cause us problems and they will probably put the game to bed.

“But if we play like we did in the rest of the game we will be alright. It will be a close game, Dundalk are a great team and we need to be able to challenge them in the final."

The road to the final has seen The Leesiders concede just one goal, that was in the Quarter Final away to Derry in a 1-1 draw. Up front Garry Buckley is Cork's joint FAI Cup top scorer with three goals. When he caught up with Extratime.ie he explained that he wants to win the cup first and foremost for the fans.

"I think for the neutrals it is the final they wanted to see, it is the two best teams in the country, we are motivated to bring the cup back to Cork, with the support we get from the fans, the lack of silverware they have had the last couple of years it's been a long time since they won anything and is what motivates us to bring the cup back to Cork."

The big question is which team will the 'wide open' Aviva pitch suit best; Dundalk or Cork City? Manager John Caulfield believes he knows the answer.

"To be honest it will suit both teams, it’s a scenario where every match we have played we try to up the tempo. Both teams like to move it quick. Both sides have very good players, so I think with the surroundings and the size of the pitch I think it will help the game," he told the awaiting press.

Both Teams have already secured European football for next season with Dundalk finishing as Champions and Cork City finishing in second place. Perhaps the ultimate prize will be for Dundalk, because if they manage to overcome City on Sunday they will have completed the double for the first time since 1988.

Kick Off for the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium is at 15:30.