Soccer

Cork City and Dundalk vie in sell-out top-of-the-table clash

Caulfield believes City have been a lot better both in attack and at the back this year

Cork City manager John Caulfield: “When you bring in quality players, on top of the quality of players that we had already, it gives you a different belief.” Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Cork City manager John Caulfield: “When you bring in quality players, on top of the quality of players that we had already, it gives you a different belief.” Photograph: Donall Farmer/Inpho
Paul Buttner
Fri Apr 24 2015 - 01:00

Instilled with added quality and belief, manager John Caulfield is confident Cork City are now better than when they ran Dundalk so close in the title race last year.

Tonight’s top-of-the-table clash at a packed Turner’s Cross, when the unbeaten sides meet for the first time this season, will provide the acid test.

The general consensus was that Dundalk, who won all three games between the sides last season, deserved the 2014 title, after goals from Stephen O’Donnell and Brian Gartland saw them overtake Cork in a dramatic finale at Oriel Park last October.

Though Cork may have been stung by criticism for not playing a more passing game on the road this season, Caulfield’s side has been ruthless at home, scoring 12 times without reply in four convincing victories.

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“When you bring in quality players, on top of the quality of players that we had already, it gives you a different belief,” he says.

New targets

“We know it’s going to be very tough, but we have new targets this year and we believe that we can stay right up there until the end.

“Most people think Dundalk will win the league [again] this year, but it is up to us to see where we are at.

“Last year was last year. We were fantastic and the lads did brilliantly. This year we have a new team and a different style of play, and I think you can see that we have been a lot better, both defensively and attacking-wise.

Caulfield has central defender Alan Bennett back from a hamstring injury, but is waiting for fitness checks on John Dunleavy, John O’Flynn and Karl Sheppard.

Meanwhile the champions, with a two-point lead at the top, have goalkeeper Gary Rogers back from suspension, while central defender Gartland is fit, despite being withdrawn with a slight hamstring strain in Monday’s home win over Galway United.

“We’re all looking forward to it. It’s a big test for us,” said Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny, who yesterday signed a contract extension until the end of the 2016 season.

Sell-out

“It’s going to be a sell-out, which is great for Irish football. It’s going to be a great occasion with the top two on television . . . the games you want to be involved in.

St Patrick’s Athletic give last season’s leading scorer Christy Fagan a late fitness test on a knee injury as they look to make up ground on the leaders at home to Sligo Rovers. Bohemians travel to Derry, while Drogheda United host Longford Town at United Park.