VINISHED ARTICLE
Shields warns Cork not to expect a drop in standards under new boss
CHRIS SHIELDS reckons talk of Cork City’s demise is ‘foolish’ and premature – but warned it will be business as usual for Dundalk.
The heavyweights of the last five seasons clash in this evening’s President’s Cup decider.
While Dundalk have lost inspirational figurehead Stephen Kenny, they tried to minimise the upheaval by elevating his assistant Vinny Perth, inset, to the top job.
Former captain Stephen O’donnell has retired and joined the backroom staff but the vast majority of the doublewinning squad remains intact.
Lithuanian midfielder
Karolis Chvedukas joined Waterford yesterday after an injury disrupted year with the Lilywhites in which he was forced to the fringes.
Cork have lost a number of high profile players like Kieran Sadlier, Steven Beattie, Jimmy Keohane, Johnny Dunleavy and Barry Mcnamee.
Damien Delaney has moved on but key men like Mark Mcnulty, Alan Bennett, Gearoid Morrissey, Conor Mccormack, Garry Buckley and Karl Sheppard remain.
In come the likes of Daire O’connor, Dan Casey, Garry Comerford, James Tilley and Darragh Rainsford but Cork are under the radar. The perception is they are weaker than before because of cutbacks and John Caulfield has admitted staying in the chasing pack will take work. But Dundalk ace Shields told Mirror Sport: “There’s always a surprise team every few years. It was us in 2013. “St Pat’s have signed really well and Chris Forrester going back there is a huge boost for them. Shamrock Rovers have signed well with a few names.
“But Cork will be Cork and you just know they’re going to be there or thereabouts. It would be foolish to write them off.”
But Shields sent an ominous warning to all pretenders to the throne. All eyes will be on them without Kenny at the helm, but the Clondalkin man insists the show goes on.
He explained:
“It was business as usual as soon as Stephen left – the players didn’t leave with him.
“Vinny has been brilliant and it’s the same with Ruaidhri
Higgins and John Gill and all the backroom staff.
“It’s not exactly a fresh look as Vinny has always been here but there’s a freshness to the club and it’s been an enjoyable pre-season.”
And Shields continued:
“Vinny is well capable of filling the shoes. He knows the way it works around here and knows how to get the best out of people.
“He was just as important to our success as Stephen and the players.
“We’re hungry to win more. We look at the medals and say
‘it’s not enough, we want more’ and Vinny is driving that.”