New stars to shine in epic rivalry
EVERY year of their dominance has brought the same challenge. Not just to remain at the summit, but to replace those who helped them scale the heights.
Rather than simply strengthening firm foundations, both Cork City and Dundalk have been faced with rebuilding the scaffolding while ensuring it is stable enough to maintain their place at the top.
Star men have come and gone; some reaching the pinnacle with Ireland, others continuing to scrap for a career in Britain, while some have returned home unable to replicate their success abroad.
Pat Hoban, Richie Towell, Andy Boyle, Daryl Horgan, Patrick McEleney, David McMillan and Niclas Vemmelund make up a lengthy list of departures from Oriel Park.
For Cork, they have lost Sean Maguire, Kevin O’Connor and Stephen Dooley from the side who won the league at a canter last term and there was also a major overhaul at Turner’s Cross during the winter of 2015 as they sought a new way of doing things.
Managers Stephen Kenny and John Caulfield have created a duopoly in the League of Ireland despite the talent drain for most of this decade and the fifth season of their intense rivalry looks set to see the title once again settle in either Louth or Leeside.
Level on 28 points apiece going into tonight’s clash at Turner’s Cross, they have broken free of the chasing pack. Waterford’s early surge has been halted by ill-discipline while Derry City, despite six wins in a row before a 2-2 draw at Oriel Park last time out, are well adrift.
Shamrock Rovers, for their part, are closer to the relegation play-off spot than they are to Dundalk at the top.
The Hoops are among those who have just not been able to find a winning formula, yet Kenny and Caulfield have continually come up with a successful blend.
‘We know the challenge that is there, and we need to focus on our own game. We have brought a number of new players through, we have had to do that, and we have done very well. It is early days, but the season has started very well for us.
‘All the new players have really adapted to what we are looking for and they understand the pressure there is,’ the Cork manager said ahead of tonight’s game, with Kenny also stressing the importance of key men stepping up.
‘A lot of our young players are really emerging into the team,’ the Dubliner added.
‘Overall I feel we are playing very well at the moment. The players are in good form and are playing well in every match. We have been on a good run,’ he added.
‘The players are passing the ball really well and showing a lot of invention in the final third. Turner’s Cross is a great place to go and play and we are looking forward to it.’
At the end of the first season in which Dundalk pipped Cork to the title by beating them 2-0 on the final day, top scorer Hoban departed for Oxford United.
The following year, Towell earned a move to Brighton and Hove Albion while it was at that point that Caulfield moved away from relying on a solid, experienced core and put a trust in pace and power mixed with his insatiable appetite for success.
It came to fruition last season with Maguire hitting unprecedented heights — scoring 20 goals before the mid-season break — as Dundalk struggled in the aftermath of seeing Boyle and Horgan move to Preston North End.
They may not be hitting the same thrilling heights as last year but Cork are dealing with losing Maguire, not to mention the underrated Dooley, just fine.
McMillan and McEleney waved farewell to Oriel this winter and just like others did before him Jamie McGrath has stepped up to fill the void left by the enigmatic Derryman.
Michael Duffy, too, has been sensational on the left wing, but the emergence of 21-year-old Maynooth University graduate McGrath is most satisfying of all.
He showed his promise early as a teenager with St Patrick’s Athletic and that prompted Kenny to bring him north at the start of last season where he is now finally beginning to be someone who can make the difference when it matters most.
Turner’s Cross can be the stage for McGrath to reinforce that belief.