POGS WAR OF
Sheppard: Will we copy Man United star in FAI final? Juve got to kidding!
PAUL POGBA riled Manchester United fans by posing with Juan Cuadrado in the Juventus dressing room after a recent Champions League defeat at Old Trafford.
Cuadrado even presented him with a present in a ‘Juve’ gift bag.
But Karl Sheppard insists those niceties won’t be repeated between Cork City and Dundalk players in Sunday’s FAI Cup final between Ireland’s top two teams.
This time last year, Rebels ace Sheppard had agreed to join Dundalk but was angered when the news leaked before the cup final against the Lilywhites and pulled the plug.
But while some fans may be fatigued by this particular rivalry, Sheppard insists the on-field edge between the players remains as strong as ever.
Sheppard said: “I can assure you there won’t be any gifts exchanged at this cup final!
“Look, I’d be very surprised if their lads didn’t hate us and if they didn’t think we hated them.
It’s just the way it is. Most people play the game here for the love of it. Nobody is making amazing money that would set the world alight.
“It can be called a grudge match but there is a hatred between both sides. You can see once there’s a bust up, everyone is in.
“Everyone is dying to have their chance to take a cut off one of the other team, so I certainly would call it a grudge match.”
Sheppard added: “I know the sets of fans would dislike each other, so it’s not just from the players.
“That extra bit of spice is added when there’s that hatred going into a cup final. If there is a bad tackle, both teams will be flying in to have a cut off each other.
Sheppard himself was the main one when the story broke in the build-up to the final that he was heading to Dundalk. He admits it was a difficult few days but reckons the Dundalk fans have forgot about it as they don’t dish out as much abuse.
“It’s nice to be able to concentrate on the football,” he said.
“Last year wasn’t the easiest build up I’ve had to a game, especially a cup final but that’s all in the past now.
“The only reason I was thinking of moving at the time was the girlfriend had a little one and she wasn’t going to be able to commute all the time.
“But she was able to move down and all three of us are settling in really well.
“A lot of people say to me ‘you’re an honorary Cork man now’ which is very nice considering our fans have a song, “F*** the Dubs!
“Maybe it’s hard for us to win them over, but when you do it shows that you’re doing something right.”