Caulfield glad of break from League action

Despite the gloomy weather outside the Bishopstown training ground today, the mood was a lot brighter as manager John Caulfield spoke to the assembled press.

The next game on the horizon after a busy few weeks is the visit of St. Peter’s to Turners Cross this Friday for a game that will see a reduced ticket price of €10 on the gate for all adults. Caulfield praised his side’s spirit and is looking forward to the Cup tie which will be a welcome change to league football.

“I suppose the big thing is that it’s cup week which is good and we have had nine games in 29 days which is nearly three games a week. It’s been so intense and winning the six league games in a row was phenomenal. Particularly Friday night when the gas levels were low, you know Derry were hanging on, digging in and there spirit and their attitude. That’s the type of players they are this year they just dug deep.

“I think you can even see when they equalised they ran to get the ball that shows the great spirit in the team and was a fantastic three points.

“Getting six wins is good but more importantly it shows the supporters that there is a real bit between the teeth with these players and that they are never beaten and that is why it is such a fantastic end to the last six games.”

When asked if this year’s group was rated as having a better spirit than previous year’s squads he said they are all different but was pleased by what he saw last Friday at the end of the game.

“I never want to compare as any player who has played for me with this club and even moved on has been fantastic and have always done what I have asked of them. 

“Even when we had equalised the last night, Danny and Sean Maguire got the ball and ran back to the halfway line as a draw wasn’t good enough they wanted to win and that I think that says massive things about the team and I think our supporters can see that. But the most important thing is to keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard and I think our supporters can see that.”

Complacency is often an issue for Premier Division teams when they played non league sides over the years, but this is something that the City legend will be aware of this week. He knows it will be an uphill battle for the Midlanders but will be giving them the respect they deserve.

“St. Peters Athlone is a great game for them. They were formed in the 80’s and I know many of their players and backroom staff. They are a fantastic junior club.  They have worked hard over the years and been in Junior finals and this year they got beaten in the semi-finals. It’s fantastic for them to draw a premier club for them; it’s the icing on the cake coming to Cork to play us. It will be a David versus Goliath clash but we have to treat it with the required respect as it gives us a big opportunity to progress to the next round. We will make some changes but not as many as the league cup.

“Friday night is a different type of game because it’s the cup and it’s a different type of game as it’s a once off and from our point of view it’s important not to be complacent. If you don’t show a team respect and get complacent that is when upsets happen. From our point of view, while I’m saying we’ll make a few changes as they obviously there is fellows chomping at the bit to play but from our point of view having been in the Aviva last year and a great occasion for the club, we’d like to get back there again this year.”

Looking ahead to Friday night Gearóid Morrissey is likely to be rested after only doing light training while John Kavanagh is out. Regarding his update Caulfield said “I’d love to have him back after the break, but psychologically it’s huge as he’s been out for a year and is still only doing light training. I don’t want to put a time line on it as it’s a huge injury and while he’d love to be back next week, it’s impossible but we’re hoping to have him back for the second half of the year.”

*No Questions were asked on the reported incident last Friday night as the matter is under investigation and the club will not be commenting while this is taking place.