Extratime.ie May Premier Division Manager of the Month: Paul Doolin
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Five wins from six and just one goal conceded; May was an astonishing month for Paul Doolin and has Cork City side. The former Drogheda United boss also won the award back in April, but was worthy of it again this time round as the Leesiders won 28 points from 30 in the league.
Speaking to extratime.ie on receiving the award, Doolin said that he was happy with the award but Cork’s recent dip in form has frustrated him. “I’m delighted to have won the award and that Dan (Murray) got one too. We have been very good but we’ve hit a little blip the past week. In the Bohs’ game we were beaten but we were disappointed on Tuesday against Drogheda. We tried to play too much football on a horrendous pitch but I feel we were good defensively against Shamrock Rovers again on Friday night.
Cork’s main strong point so far this season is their strength in depth at the back, and Doolin was keen to highlight how pivotal it is to have a solid back-line if you want to advance in this league. “The defence is key if you want to be up there in this league. This is where people need to realise that if you want to be finishing 29 points behind then play the old way. If you want to be challenging in the league then you want to have a good back five,” he said.
Cork have faced the other three sides which make up the leagues big four in recent weeks, with Shamrock Rovers the opposition on Friday last. “We’re probably disappointed in a sense with Friday’s result,” said Doolin after the 0-0 draw. “We deserved the win as we were very good at times. I think our play, in particular the first half, was fantastic. There were two particular chances at the Shed End, but we just don’t have somebody to get in there and finish it. Rovers had a little bit of a spell in the second half and maybe the game went a little bit loose. Over the 90 minutes, though, I felt we deserved the three points. What do people want, to be two points or five points behind? We were disappointed with Tuesday night. The second half in Drogheda, I felt we were good at times and we continued the intensity against Rovers.”
Despite the Leesiders’ impressive form, they’ve also come in for some criticism; in particular former manager Damien Richardson, who has aired his views on the entertainment value belonging to Cork at present. In reply Doolin told extratime.ie: “To be honest, I don’t know what it is with some people. They say we don’t play football but that’s rubbish. Sometimes we might even play too much football. We’re two points behind.”
The Dubliner was also keen to add some perspective to Cork’s current situation. “The lads have been very good when you look at where the club has been. This club has been unstable for 12 months and when you consider what the players have had to put up with, there’s great credit due to them. If they play like they did against Rovers on Friday, then we’ll probably end up winning more games once we just finish the chances we’ve been creating.
Cork’s only weakness at the moment is a shortage of goals and Doolin believes they need a natural striker to put away chances that they have been creating. “I’ve not looked at anybody in particular,” he said when questioned on the up-coming transfer window. “We’re looking for a Gary Twigg or a Jason Byrne. Rovers paid €20000 for Twigg. I’ve spent no money. At the moment I’m not sure whether there is money there to get players. We could do with a couple to freshen us up after the break. However, we can’t get anybody before the break so I think we’ve to focus on the next two games.
Cork face Sligo Rovers next week in the FAI Cup, before playing Dundalk in the league before the mid-season recess. The focus now for Doolin and his assistant Tommy Dunne, is to get back to winning ways. “When you look at the cup we certainly want to win. We’ve a difficult draw but it’s at home. That’s all you can ask for in the cup, a home draw. Sligo are a decent side, we played them at Turner’s Cross a few weeks ago and beat them 1-0. It will be a tight, tough game but if we play like we did last Friday, I’d be more than happy with that. We then have the Dundalk game the week after but we’ll take the cup game first and I’ll speak to you again after that,” concluded the double award winner.
Speaking to extratime.ie on receiving the award, Doolin said that he was happy with the award but Cork’s recent dip in form has frustrated him. “I’m delighted to have won the award and that Dan (Murray) got one too. We have been very good but we’ve hit a little blip the past week. In the Bohs’ game we were beaten but we were disappointed on Tuesday against Drogheda. We tried to play too much football on a horrendous pitch but I feel we were good defensively against Shamrock Rovers again on Friday night.
Cork’s main strong point so far this season is their strength in depth at the back, and Doolin was keen to highlight how pivotal it is to have a solid back-line if you want to advance in this league. “The defence is key if you want to be up there in this league. This is where people need to realise that if you want to be finishing 29 points behind then play the old way. If you want to be challenging in the league then you want to have a good back five,” he said.
Cork have faced the other three sides which make up the leagues big four in recent weeks, with Shamrock Rovers the opposition on Friday last. “We’re probably disappointed in a sense with Friday’s result,” said Doolin after the 0-0 draw. “We deserved the win as we were very good at times. I think our play, in particular the first half, was fantastic. There were two particular chances at the Shed End, but we just don’t have somebody to get in there and finish it. Rovers had a little bit of a spell in the second half and maybe the game went a little bit loose. Over the 90 minutes, though, I felt we deserved the three points. What do people want, to be two points or five points behind? We were disappointed with Tuesday night. The second half in Drogheda, I felt we were good at times and we continued the intensity against Rovers.”
Despite the Leesiders’ impressive form, they’ve also come in for some criticism; in particular former manager Damien Richardson, who has aired his views on the entertainment value belonging to Cork at present. In reply Doolin told extratime.ie: “To be honest, I don’t know what it is with some people. They say we don’t play football but that’s rubbish. Sometimes we might even play too much football. We’re two points behind.”
The Dubliner was also keen to add some perspective to Cork’s current situation. “The lads have been very good when you look at where the club has been. This club has been unstable for 12 months and when you consider what the players have had to put up with, there’s great credit due to them. If they play like they did against Rovers on Friday, then we’ll probably end up winning more games once we just finish the chances we’ve been creating.
Cork’s only weakness at the moment is a shortage of goals and Doolin believes they need a natural striker to put away chances that they have been creating. “I’ve not looked at anybody in particular,” he said when questioned on the up-coming transfer window. “We’re looking for a Gary Twigg or a Jason Byrne. Rovers paid €20000 for Twigg. I’ve spent no money. At the moment I’m not sure whether there is money there to get players. We could do with a couple to freshen us up after the break. However, we can’t get anybody before the break so I think we’ve to focus on the next two games.
Cork face Sligo Rovers next week in the FAI Cup, before playing Dundalk in the league before the mid-season recess. The focus now for Doolin and his assistant Tommy Dunne, is to get back to winning ways. “When you look at the cup we certainly want to win. We’ve a difficult draw but it’s at home. That’s all you can ask for in the cup, a home draw. Sligo are a decent side, we played them at Turner’s Cross a few weeks ago and beat them 1-0. It will be a tight, tough game but if we play like we did last Friday, I’d be more than happy with that. We then have the Dundalk game the week after but we’ll take the cup game first and I’ll speak to you again after that,” concluded the double award winner.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile