When we find top gear we will be so frightening
O’CONNOR INSISTS CORK CAN ONLY IMPROVE
TOP of the league with five wins from five yet you will struggle to find a Cork City player happy with their performances to date.
So bearing that in mind, left-back Kevin O’connor believes that champions Dundalk may be “rattled” by the Rebels’ surge ahead of today’s clash. Turner’s Cross plays host to the latest chapter in this explosive rivalry and while there was a time when City couldn’t buy a win, they have a hold on the Lilywhites of late. John Caulfield’s men have won four out of the last five meetings – including the FAI Cup final – although Stephen Kenny will rightly point to the league trophy residing in Oriel Park. But O’connor told Mirror Sport: “We want to replicate Dundalk and all they have achieved and I feel we’re getting there. “We’ve made a strong start to the season which has given us massive belief but it’s important not to lose sight of it either. We’ve won five games and it’s nothing more than that. It’s a good start but Dundalk and Derry City are hot on our heels. “We set ourselves a certain standard for the season and while it’s good to be winning games, we’re not happy with how we’re playing. “We’re still trying to find our best form but once that comes I think we’re going to be frightening with the pace and power in our side. “In the last three years, we haven’t got over the line against Dundalk but we found a way in the FAI Cup final (inset) and it has stuck with everyone. “It’s helped our attitude and I’d like to think we have them rattled. It’s pretty clear how much we want the league and they’ll be wary of us winning games while not playing well. Dundalk are still the benchmark and they’ve earned that right. “They still have a great squad but we believe we can edge them out. We’re not thinking of second place.” Certainly not with red-hot Seanie Maguire banging in the goals for fun. His brace in last week’s 2-1 win away to Shamrock Rovers brought his haul to six in just five league games. His goals will fuel City’s title belief, although Caulfield and goalkeeper Mark Mcnulty have already expressed fears about being able to retain him beyond the summer. “Seanie is the best striker in the league, he is just different class,” said O’connor of his former Republic of Ireland Under-21 team-mate. “He’s not one to moan either, he works hard and rewards himself on the pitch. “Against Rovers he had no right to win that ball off their goalkeeper but when luck is on your side you chase every lost cause. “But there are 20 other players helping him out and we’ve had a lot of different scorers in games, that firepower is one of our biggest strengths. “There’s been a great buzz in the squad this week. All the games are massive but because of the massive rivalry there’s something very special about the Dundalk one.”