Dolan offers cautious stance
eleven-a-side
Dolan offers cautious stance
October 28, 2004
Cork City manager Pat Dolan has played down his side’s title expectations – but admitted that the Leesiders’ exceptional run of victories reminds him of St Patrick’s Athletic’s title charge five years ago.
The Saints, under the charge of Dolan, went unbeaten for the last seven games of the 1998/99 season, winning the last four with clean sheets, to steal past – somewhat ironically – Cork City and claim their second successive Premier Division crown.
Cork have bettered that run of form this year, and an eighth straight win on Friday night, when they take on four-point leaders Shelbourne in a massive clash at Tolka Park, would lift City to within one of the defending champions with four games remaining.
And, while advising against any unrealistic expectations on behalf of the Rebel Army, Dolan admitted that his side shown the form necessary to stage a successful title coup.
Dolan told the Irish Examiner: “I’d say to those thinking we can win it, that we are only looking at the next game. It’s only right and proper and professional to not looking beyond the next game. That’s the way you develop a winning mentality.
“My players are showing tremendous character, they are giving everything on the training ground and on the field, and all we’re doing is looking ahead to the next game.
“I remember when we won the title at St Pat’s that we also went on a seven-game unbeaten run. And while at Inchicore, we didn’t look behind the next game either. It’s exactly the same situation here.”
