Caulfield praises Cork City players after FAI Cup triumph

Daire Walsh at the Aviva Stadium

The Leesiders boss was greatly impressed with his players’ performances despite a slow start against holders Dundalk

Following his side’s dramatic FAI Cup final success over Dundalk at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, Cork City manager John Caulfield pin-pointed their improved second half display in normal time as the catalyst for their eventual triumph.

The Leesiders had struggled to impose themselves on the play during the opening 45 minutes, but although he acknowledged that penalties were looking like an inevitability, he was pleased to see Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Sean Maguire producing a dramatic extra-time winner.

“It was a game like two heavyweights. First half, Dundalk dominated the match. We stood off them, it looked like we were very nervous. I don’t know why. At half-time we had a chat, I said ‘let’s get into the game’. The second half we were fantastic,” Caulfied remarked afterwards.

“Totally dominated the match, and created some chances. Obviously, Gary Rogers probably made the save of the match. Then in extra-time, tired legs, and we made a few changes. Gave us a little bit of a lift, but obviously it looked like penalties.  Maguire, 29 goals this season. Slight deflection on it, but it was pleasing to see it creep into the bottom corner.”

At 35 years of age, Alan Bennett is one of the veterans of this Cork side, but he delivered a superb performance at the heart of defence. Bennett was capped twice at international level with the Republic of Ireland in 2007, and he was joined on the field in extra-time by Colin Healy – who made 13 international appearances during his time in Scotland and England.

Healy also featured during Cork’s previous Cup final win 2007, and Caulfield was fulsome in his praise for the highly-experienced duo.

“To be fair, I think he [Alan Bennett] was going for the ball all day, and you want that. He’s a phenomenal player. Pure warhorse. Doesn’t train all the time with his age, but week after week, just gets himself on the pitch to perform. He was outstanding in last year’s cup final, today was immense.

“I think everyone knows that he [Healy] was one of the most unfortunate footballers when he was in England. Two legs breaks, because he was an incredible player. I was fortunate that, when I took over the club, that he was at the club, and I think the first year we were there he was fantastic.

“It was fitting for him to come on today, because the game got stretched, we got tired, and he came in and made some unbelievable interceptions. Overall, he gave us that composure, and those legs. It’s great for him, he was part of the 2007 final, which was okay, but there wasn’t the same buzz. He knew that today was the day.”

For Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny, there was obvious disappointment, but even though his team missed out on a second successive domestic double, he hailed their phenomenal effort – just three days after their latest Europa League encounter against Zenit in St Petersburg.

“To lose it in the last minute of extra-time like that. Obviously, I’m very disappointed with it,” Kenny revealed.

“I felt bar a spell in the second-half, where obviously Sean Gannon headed one off the line, and Gary [Rogers] made a few good saves, I thought we largely controlled.

“Certainly looked the more likely to win it in extra-time, and even though it was such a gruelling trip to play Thursday night, and then get back. It was just a monumental effort really by the players. They pushed themselves to their absolute limits in terms of physically.

“That’s the way it goes, you have to take the good with the bad, and I think Cork are a good team. Don’t concede many goals, and they obviously have an attacking threat.”