Congrats to Cork. Very impressed by the Alan Bennet interview after the match. A true captain; a true leader. Definitely an aura of greatness about him - and some kind words about Ryan McBride. Glad to see someone like that get rewarded.
Well done Cork City, deserved winners overall. And really who gives a flying fcuk how it was won.... it was won with 2 games to spare. I'd take it. There was always going to be a sticky period, with or without Maguire, Cork had more than enough in reserve to have a mega-stumble and still finish a distance ahead of Dundalk and a country mile ahead of the peloton.
I'd almost not begrudge the Foras boys and everyone who stood by them through the tough times.
And while the football can be a bit grim at times, John Caulfield can rub people up the wrong way and, well, it's Cork, I can't help but be filled with admiration for this league title win. Dundalk have been phenomenal for the past few years, so Cork said feck it, we'll just have to be even more phenomenal. And they were for two thirds of a season anyway! Not many teams have the balls to do that. The contrast with Mayo GAA, for example is stark. After another loss to Dublin this year the general attitude seemed to be 'ah sure it wasn't to be our years, the Dubs are phenomenal, etc'. It would have been easy for Cork to keep plodding along, win a cup, qualify for Europe, admire Dundalk from a distance. Feck that, Cork raised their game by a couple of levels, and grabbed their bit of history. Legendary stuff.
Can't wait for the cup final and next season.
Three times in a row. 2014, 2015 and 2016. Every year JC has had us in the top two, after taking over a team in 6th.Originally Posted by CorribsideSteve
It can sometimes be a tough watch when Cork City are on the box. Its quite often rudimentary, its route one, aimless punts etc. But when the chips were down, they were too good for Dundalk across most matches this year, and that's been the biggest difference, apart from that lad who went to Preston, cant think of his name right now.They are not a purist's idea of an attractive football team, but they are Champions regardless and, they deserve congratulations, especially after coming so close being runners up twice in a row.
I imagine the players had a great night last night but hopefully we can put in a performance on Friday. I for one have never forgiven Pats for 98/99!
Any team that lost their best player mid way through the season would struggle. Take Twigg out of the Rovers teams of 2010/11 would they have still won the league? Hoban from Dundalk in 2014, Towell in 2015, Horgan in 2016? Dundalk have struggled this year, it took them half a season to get going. We stumbled over the line in the end but our incredible start gave us the ability to do that. It doesn't matter what order you get the points in so long as you get them.
We have a lot of work to do ahead of next season but we're going to enjoy the next couple of weeks. Cup final to come of course which would really put the icing on the cake that is such an amazing season. Champions at last!
Congrats to Cork, it was always going to take a huge effort stopping Dundalk in their quest for 4-in-a-row and they not only took their opportunity with Dlk's poor start but they blew everyone away in the first 22 games and probably more.
I think the gap was 21 points (for a few days) at one stage so Dlk did very well to claw it back to 7 points but no prizes for second, and no one will care about how it was won, Cork fully deserved this league title.
Enjoy the celebrations, and keep the party going right up to Sat 4th November too if you can.
#DundalkFC - First Irish club to win an away game in Europe (1963), first Irish club to win points in a group stage in Europe (2016).
Thats what we did the last time we won the league! And then didn't turn up for the cup final. Hopefully the lads want a first double as much as the fans do.
Ah yes, you're right. That puts it into an even greater significance.
I only wish that the football was a bit more adventurous under Caulfield, but, it also has to be acknowlegded that this doesn't always lead to success. A good example of this was they way they played vs Larnaca last summer.
You could argue Cyprus is on a better footing overall compared to LOI and thus of a higher skill level comparatively,but Cork looked frozen in the moment of the ties and played massively within themselves and went out, aimless passing, a total lack of ideas on what to do next etc. A lot of their recent League performances seem to bear this type of approach also. A new forward and a more positive attacking purpose next season may see them as a real contender to retain the title.
Just my opinion, and it's open to criticism.
Overall though, they deserved the title based on the entirety of the season. And it's nice to see a through and through Cork man get a title as a Manager of his hometown club. There is still room in the beautiful game for such sentiment.
Well done Cork, may the revival continue against Pats this weekend.
Congrats to Cork City and their supporters on a fully deserved league title.
Looking forward now to what should be a classic FAI cup final on Nov 5th.
Should be a classic? The last two were awful.
Exactly, cup finals are almost always awful. So another awful final will be a classic final.
And now 52 week contracts. If Cork can't make it work, nobody can. Good times in Turners Cross (Roof damage excluded)
Jaysus lads take a relaxer there.
Looking forward to another good day out.
That suit yous better?
Last f'kin time i offer congrats!
Jeez I'm obviously pleased..but I thought the cup finals were enjoyable from my position on the sofa.
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