John Caulfield: 'If someone comes into the team, they have to be good'

John Caulfield had plenty of positive words for his Cork City side after they swatted aside Limerick aside by three goals to nil at the Market's Field on Friday evening.

“We just had to be disciplined,” Caulfield told reporters.

“Overall we’re very pleased. As I keep saying, every week is a challenge and we need to be ready for it.”

In-form striker Sean Maguire notched the opening goal for the fifth time this season, and Caulfield chuckled as he talked about the Kilkenny man.

“He had another one in the first half, he rounded Clarke and knocked it past the post, he’d normally stick it in.

“[He had] another great shot in the second half that Clarke saved. His form has been phenomenal.” “Overall, there was a lot of fantastic performances.

“Gearóid [Morrissey] and Bucks [Garry Buckley] with goals from midfield, tremendous work right through, a clean sheet and, bar one save Nults [Mark McNulty] had from a deflected free-kick, they really didn’t look like scoring.”

Substitutes Shane Griffin and Christen Nanetti were given invaluable minutes from the bench.

“These guys are training every day. The last few weeks we’ve had three 2-1 wins. It’s been difficult to get them on. Christian needs to understand the pace and level of this football.

“Of course Conor Ellis should have got one, might have even got two. What a goal threat he is. He’s getting more and more experience. His runs are good.”

Caulfield says looked for quality over quantity as he put together his side for this season, which means they'll rely on keeping players free of injury.

“We cut back on our numbers to get a bit more quality. We’ve looked for 16, maybe 17, so that if someone comes in they’re very good.

“Bolger, Dunleavy and Kavanagh are on the way back, all guys who’d expect to play. Overall it’s good, but we need them back.

“We need more competition. If you look at our bench tonight, we had Alec Byrne and Conor McCarthy, two of our under-19s. It is tight. We need everybody fit and ready.”

City welcome Derry City to Turners Cross next weekend, where the Rebel Army look to maintain the only 100% record in the SSE Airtricity League.