Dundalk V Cork City | Oriel Park | Tues 11 Oct | KO 7.05pm

[Ezeikial]

Best team won. Ref was atrocious. Doesn't matter, Dundalk deserved their points.

While the league is not over yet, I think you are correct on all points here.

On the ref - while the free that lead to the first goal was soft, Cork got the benefit of dubious decisions with the handball incident and Bolger inexplicably not getting a second yellow card. Nevertheless Tomas Connolly did not determine the outcome of the game

Dundalk were the superior team, as they have been in most encounters with Cork over the last few years

[El-Pietro]

To be fair, Bolger not getting sent off is just one in our favour, while over the past three years Stephen O'Donnell could have been sent off in almost every game we've played against you. O'Donnell gets booked and is then on diplomatic immunity for the rest of the game.

[Ezeikial]

To be fair, Bolger not getting sent off is just one in our favour, while over the past three years Stephen O'Donnell could have been sent off in almost every game we've played against you. O'Donnell gets booked and is then on diplomatic immunity for the rest of the game.

Crikey - why limit the discussion to just the last 3 seasons?

There used to be a time when Cork committed no fouls at all.

Take yer oil

[El-Pietro]

Need I point you to my previous post? No complaints here.

[sullanefc]

Best team won last night and they are the best team this year! .... the rest of this month is crazy for them though!
They have just one more fixture than city.

[dundalkfc10]

They have just one more fixture than city.

Just a wee trip to Russia, Imagine we had Wexford away instead

[mcgonigle]

They have just one more fixture than city.

Yeah just ignore the fact that we've had this crazy schedule for the last few weeks as well. Selective memory must be a Cork thing!

[Louth4sam]

Best team won. Ref was atrocious. Doesn't matter, Dundalk deserved their points.

Bigtime. Stonewall penalty not given for Dundalk and Bolger should have seen red.

[Ezeikial]

The congested fixture list affects both teams although the Europa League match against Zenit next Thursday makes it more complicated for Dundalk. Despite this and the more difficult run-in opposition, the bookies seem convinced that Dundalk will retain their title (unbackable at 1/7 with Cork now at 9/2 for the league title).

The bigger issue is the added demand to play the Zenit away tie in St Petersburg on the Thursday prior to the Cup Final. This gives Cork a significant advantage going into that match, so silverware remains a real possibility for Cork this season. It would be a huge disappointment for this Cork team if they ended up with nothing again this season

[Ezeikial]

Some home truths in the Echo


CITY HAVE YET TO LEARN THE ART OF WINNING THE BIG GAMES


THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016
John McHale
Soccer

ONE of the main reasons Dundalk are the best team in Ireland for the past three seasons was evident in Oriel Park on Tuesday night.
They know how to win the important games, against the best team or teams, at the important time of the season, when everything is on the line. Cork have yet to learn that art.

Let’s look at the stats from this season. By the time it ends, Cork will have played Dundalk five times. With three wins from their first four meetings, Cork, the stats will show, regardless of the result in the final game on November 6 in the Aviva Stadium, will have had the better of Dundalk this season.

If Dundalk win the final game, the FAI Cup final, those stats will be a lie.

Dundalk, thanks to their recent success, and the craft of manager Stephen Kenny, have learned that the games to win are the ones that matter against your opponent for the title, that the games to win are the ones that change the destiny of the title, and that the games to win are the ones that bring you silverware.

Despite success against Dundalk early in the season, Cork and John Caulfield have yet to achieve guile. That craft comes from winning the big games and lifting trophies that matter, not the President’s Cup.
Dundalk have this craft.
Cork have yet to achieve this status despite all the progress they have made this season.

There is no doubt that Cork are a much better team this season, but the Dundalk players know what needs to be done to win those key, season-changing, defining games. Cork have yet to develop this skill set.

There is no shame in that, Dundalk are still ahead of Cork in terms of development, but at some stage this season, this must change if City are to stop Dundalk from becoming champions for the third year in a row and doing the double for the second year in a row.

Cork huffed and puffed, showed plenty of perspiration, but very little inspiration, as they were second best, particularly in the first half.
Their marquee players, Horgan, McMillan, O’Donnell, Gartland, McEleney and Finn were better than Cork’s. That’s why they won.

Seldom have you seen a game where Kevin O’Connor, Steven Beattie, Greg Bolger, Karl Sheppard, Stephen Dooley and Sean Maguire had no impact other than a negative one.

Seldom have you seen these players come out on the wrong side of a duel with their opponent, but that is what happened Tuesday night.
Dundalk, when it mattered, were better in all areas of the pitch and while Cork upped their game at the start of the second half thanks to the introduction of Mark O’Sullivan, they didn’t do enough to win this game. Only O’Sullivan left Oriel Park with his reputation enhanced and that is what will annoy the Cork players the most.

With Martin O’Neill watching, I’m sure several of them would have hoped to impress, but they never got to the grips with the windy conditions, the awful pitch and the occasion.

The good news is that there is still time to turn this loss into a positive. As John Kavanagh, coach to Conor McGregor says, you either win or learn; that was a night of learning for Cork. The league is out of their hands, they are depending on others to help them, but there is a cup final to be played and that is a game that simply has to be won.

http://www.eveningecho.ie/sport/cork-sport/city-yet-learn-art-winning-big-games/2546264/

[Duffman]

Bigtime. Stonewall penalty not given for Dundalk and Bolger should have seen red.

Definite on the red, same player and same ref back in 2013 in Inchicore and the same outcome, ref bottled the decision. As for the penalty it's a replica of the one Cork got in the same end earlier in the season with ball hitting the hand of Massey (I think), I don't think either player did it on purpose so neither pens for me.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Definite red alright but shouldn't have been a free for the first goal either

[White Horse]

I watched a recording of the game last night. A lot of Cork's problems were caused by their two central defenders. Anytime Dundalk got possession, they dropped off very deep and left too much space. A lot of Cork fans were critical of Bolger, Buckley, and Holohan but they had an impossible job.

Bennett and Browne are probably the slowest centre half partnership in the division and they were petrified of Dundalk getting in behind them.

In addition, while Browne tried to play out from the back, Bennett hoofed the ball at every opportunity.

[El-Pietro]

Not sure where to put this but Daryl Horgan has been named POTM for September. Interesting that they waited until after this game to announce it. Not question the better team won this game, but Sean Maguire was easily the best player in Ireland during September.

Sort of like how Towell was given POTM for November last year despite not being man of the match in the only match played that month.



Maguire scored 6 goals for City in September and got another two for Ireland U-21. Bunch of assists as well.

[nigel-harps1954]

In fairness, Horgan was sublime in September from what I've seen. He was instrumental in two Europa League games during the month which probably swayed the award vote.

[seand]

Not sure where to put this but Daryl Horgan has been named POTM for September. Interesting that they waited until after this game to announce it. Not question the better team won this game, but Sean Maguire was easily the best player in Ireland during September.

Sort of like how Towell was given POTM for November last year despite not being man of the match in the only match played that month.



Maguire scored 6 goals for City in September and got another two for Ireland U-21. Bunch of assists as well.

Player of the month tends to be dodgy as feck all right, Horgan was sensational against Maccabi which probably helped his cause.

[Philosophizer]

Fair point El Pietro, Maguire was probably the best domestic player in September, but i'd assume that Horgans performances against Alkmaar and Maccabi are what won it for him.

[pineapple stu]

Didn't think Horgan was great against Maccabi myself - seemed to be trying too hard, and had a few poor attempts on goal from really good positions, though he did set up the goal - but was great against Alkmaar alright.

[White Horse]

Fair point El Pietro, Maguire was probably the best domestic player in September, but i'd assume that Horgans performances against Alkmaar and Maccabi are what won it for him.

It's a reflection of the level of opposition Horgan faced in the month. Maguire is unlucky as he just playing at a lower level. His performances don't seem to count as much as a result.

[oriel]

Id probably also agree that Maguire was the best player in Sept for league games, but by playing at a higher level in the EL group matches, and performing very well, this would have swung it in Horgan's favour.

I think it's journalists that vote for these awards anyway, Maguire probably wasn't too far out with the votes in the end.

[El-Pietro]

Again, Maguire scored two for Ireland U21 that month. Came off the bench in both games.

[Ezeikial]

Settling for 2nd place is never easy - but there is not always an anti-Cork conspiracy going on

[Olander]

Those POTM nominations have always been a bit of a joke to be honest.

How many defenders have you seen win it for example?

A few months back Dylan Connolly was clearly the POTM and some Dundalk player got it I think. Another month Vinny Faherty scored in every single game in the month for us, totally carried us, I think all of his goals decided games also, but Ronan Finn got it despite scoring two penalties if memory serves me right. The majority of journalists who vote never leave Dublin/Dundalk for games anyway unless there is a big deciding match in Cork or Dundalk are playing away against somebody like ourselves or Sligo or whatever.

[El-Pietro]

Its not an anti Cork conspiracy. Its a pro Dundalk one!

[Real ale Madrid]

but there is not always an anti-Cork conspiracy going on

They don't give a sh**e about us down here.

[osarusan]

Ridden rock solid as usual.

[Philosophizer]

Again, Maguire scored two for Ireland U21 that month. Came off the bench in both games.

EL group stage is probably regarded as a higher standard than slovenia/serbia u21s i'd say.

[El-Pietro]

To be fair Serbia are the U20 World Champions.

[nigel-harps1954]

To be fair Serbia are the U20 World Champions.

Are they better than AZ Alkmaar or Maccabai Tel Aviv though?

[gufcfan]

I watched a recording of the game last night. A lot of Cork's problems were caused by their two central defenders. Anytime Dundalk got possession, they dropped off very deep and left too much space. A lot of Cork fans were critical of Bolger, Buckley, and Holohan but they had an impossible job.

I'd venture a guess that Caulfield told them specifically to do that.

[Charlie Darwin]

“The Dundalk supporters showed their true colours the other night cheering the team off after the 3-0 defeat to Sligo Rovers. I think that’s the first time it has ever happened to me during my career – being applauded off after a 3-0 defeat!
That's nothing. We've been applauding our players off after 3-0 defeats for months now.

[Nesta99]

I'd venture a guess that Caulfield told them specifically to do that.

Cork City are on the Dundalk coat tails despite rather than because of Caulfield. Cork are a side that even with recent 4 or 5 goals (I can nearly see Caulfield say stop hammering team as goals dont grow on trees) wins still have been held back at key times of the season by the cautious nature of JC. A draw in Oriel would have done him as he believes Dundalk will have to drop points due to the demands on the squad over the next couple of weeks. He would have been better off assuming that Dundalk will finish the season with 4 or 5 wins and decided to grab the game in Oriel by the scruff. As good as Horgan's second goal was he ran 60 yds with the ball as defenders kept backing off and were then split by runners off the ball, the first while there was an element of luck McNulty was weak. At 2 nil the shackles came off the Cork players and chased the game admirably, as it turned out the damage was done and after taking 6 points off Dundalk this season.....

[ger121]

That's nothing. We've been applauding our players off after 3-0 defeats for months now.

So that's how you got rid of the Brennans. Nicely done!

[Charlie Darwin]

Nice try but we're not giving up that secret. You'll have to figure out how to get rid of them yourselves next season :)