Cup final will not define our season – Caulfield

CORK CITY manager John Caulfield doesn’t believe that Sunday’s FAI Cup final against Dundalk at the Aviva Stadium will define the Rebel Army’s season.

Last year’s double winners have already ceded their title to the Lilywhites and defeat this week would leave them empty-handed apart from the Munster Senior Cup, and in the process allowed Stephen Kenny’s side to match their achievement of 2015.

In 2016, City won the cup to deny Dundalk the double and that victory was cited as a key factor in the progress they made in 2017, but Caulfield doesn’t feel that one game can be said to determine whether a season is a success or not.

High standards witnessed across the channel have a bearing in how clubs here are seen, according to Caulfield.

“You have to see it in a context where we’re dominated by the UK,” he said.

“You can’t see past it, every armchair supporter or guys on the barstool, everything is dominated by theUK.

“Our league is now being treated like that, managers and players are being treated like that – get rid of this, get rid of that, but we’re not at that level.

“We’re struggling to create our own industry and you’ve heard me say that before. No player in this country bar a handful would be on a wage anywhere close to League One.

“Most players are scrapping for their few bob and 80pc of players are out of contract now. What are we here for?

“There are only two trophies realistically. Is our season defined by Sunday? It depends on how you look at it.

“We have been phenomenally successful and qualified for Europe but there are a small few who say this, this and this should happen.

“We cannot go out and buy players like (Jose) Mourinho. We’re not in that market but unfortunately we’re treated that way and you have to deal with that. We’ve ended up having sensationalism around the league, get rid of people et cetera.

“Is it defining for us this season? I wouldn’t think so at all. We have been incredibly consistent. Would we like to win the cup? Absolutely, but we may not. We’ll still have had a fantastic season. “

Karl Sheppard, with a hamstring injury, is City’s main injury worry for Sunday, but Caulfield is optimistic that the winger will be fit.

“Injuries clear up very quickly before a cup final, which is good,” he laughed.

Dundalk’s striker Patrick Hoban is rated as a doubt with an ankle problem, but Caulfield has a suspicion that there may be mindgames emanating from Louth.

“If you’re asking me will he play on Sunday, he will play on Sunday. I don’t believe the injury is half as serious as reported and we’re planning that he will be playing.”