Cork City manager John Caulfield has praised his side for returning to their best against Dundalk on Monday night even though the game ultimately ended in disappointment. The Leesiders knew a win against Dundalk at Turners Cross would secure the clu
Cork City manager John Caulfield has praised his side for returning to their best against Dundalk on Monday night even though the game ultimately ended in disappointment.
The Leesiders knew a win against Dundalk at Turners Cross would secure the club its first league title in 12 years.
A Brian Gartland own goal looked to have earned City the victory against the reigning SSE Airtricity League Premier Division champions but Robbie Benson’s 87th minute equaliser ensured Cork still need two more points to secure the silverware.
“I think we have to put it into context, Dundalk have won the league for the past three years and we’ve come along and tried to see if we could win it this year,” said Caulfield.
“We’ve put our energy into it, the league goes on until the end of October and whilst there’s a little disappointment because we gave a way a soft goal - it was their only chance really in the last couple of minutes - it was a phenomenal performance by the team.
“We played really, really well. Our pace, our movement was fantastic and at the end of the day, we are disappointed to concede at the end.
“But last Friday night we needed five points to win the league tonight we need two so everything’s in our control.
“The most important thing for me is that the boys who have been questioned for the last three or four weeks got back to a proper Cork City performance.
“We showed we are back to our best tonight.”
