Privately Damien Richardson may admit the league title is Drogheda bound, but his Cork City side have developed a swagger that signals they'll give everything in pursuit over the coming weeks.

Eight points behind the leaders following Monday's 2-1 win over UCD, second-placed Cork are now unbeaten in 11 games and must still play Drogheda on Friday week.

"All we can do is take things in progressive stages," said Richardson, who has five games remaining.  "The task against UCD was to build on Friday's win over Shamrock Rovers. The next target is to keep second spot. But there is a possibility (of the title). . . and our confidence is certainly high."

But Cork should be closer to the leaders and the fact they're not will grate with supporters.

The Turner's Cross defeat to Sligo twinned with home draws against Bray and Galway proved costly in August as these were games a title-chasing side would expect to win.

Richardson admits those results have not helped his side but it is Fifa whom he still fingers with blame.

In a spat with the game's power-brokers that resulted in repeated club appeals, former Irish internationals Gareth Farrelly and Colin Healy were prevented from playing for Cork until July 1st.

The pair - who had each played for two clubs last season - have since proved their worth and are key to the team's recent revival, leaving many with the club at heart to ponder what might have been.

"The frustration of losing and drawing matches is just part of the game but you don't expect to have frustration with administrators, particularly the international administrators," added Richardson.

"You assume that the very best people in the world will gravitate to those positions of responsibility. But when you don't live up to those responsibilities, and when you renege on those responsibilities, that's what hurts me most.

"I've lost a great deal of belief in Fifa and for all they stand for because I saw two players out of football, coming back to a country where (domestic soccer) is fighting for media space in all the papers.

"I said that to Fifa and they just ignored us, they sat on their arse and were so full of pomp and pomposity that it still really sticks in the back of my throat."