Caulfield: Cork will come out on top

John Caulfield believes the team that can best handle the pressure of the league title decider between Dundalk and his Cork City side on Friday night at Oriel Park will take the silverware.

Caulfield is quietly confident the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division title trophy will be Leeside-bound come the final whistle against Stephen Kenny's Lilywhites.

Speaking to RTÉ, Caulfield said: "It's all about handling the occasion. There's no doubt there is huge pressure.

"I would say over the last ten weeks we've had enormous pressure, we've had enormous pressure all season because our crowds have been fantastic [attendances] and that in itself puts a lot of pressure on the players."

An impressive return of 26 points from a possible 30 in the last ten league games has gone a long way to answering any questions over City's ability to cope with the pressure that looms ahead of the title decider.

"Over the last 10 weeks we've had to win matches to stay in contention. If we'd slipped up at any stage it would have been Dundalk's [title]," said Caulfield, who won the title himself as a Cork player in 1993.

"This week is a big pressure occasion and it's about how to handle it. Ultimately on the night the team that handles it the best will win the league – that's what it really comes down to."

Acknowledging the achievement of both sides taking it down to the wire, he added: "We've got a great bunch of lads. They've worked hard and we'll go up there and give it our best shot.

"If it's not good enough we'll shake hands and congratulate Dundalk. But if we give it our best shot, I feel we'll come out on top."

Caulfield conceded that at the start of the season he did not expect to be challenging for the title, and that a European spot would have sufficed. But it became apparent to him as the season unfolded his charges would push for the summit.

"I was hoping we'd be up near the top and I was certainly hoping we'd be qualifying for Europe, which we have done," he said. "I feel there is tremendous talent in Cork and I felt there was a good squad of players there. Obviously we've fine-tuned some of it as well.

"Early on in the season we'd done well and certainly by the halfway point I thought we were well good enough to stay in the top three, and so it's proved.

"It looked like Dundalk's title. Eight or nine weeks ago everyone was tipping Dundalk to win it and we weren't given any chance but the lads have been tremendous and we've gone on a tremendous run and we've brought it to the last game of the season, so it's all to play for."

Although Cork sit a point ahead of Dundalk, meaning a draw would be enough for the Munster side but the Louth outfit must win, Caulfield believes it is the home side who hold all the aces.

"We know how difficult it is, it's at home on their pitch, it's an all-weather pitch, which is always difficult"

"We know how difficult it is, it's at home on their pitch, it's an all-weather pitch, which is always difficult. So Dundalk really have all the advantages.

"But at the same time I wouldn't underestimate my guys this season. They've really come up trumps. When they've been knocked they bounced back and over last number of weeks they've delivered fantastic results.

"So while we know it's going to be extremely difficult and we know how good Dundalk are, I still believe we'll give a right go and have a good shot at it.

"I feel if we play well we'll win the match."

Caulfield amassed over 450 appearances as a player in beloved Cork shirt, winning an FAI Cup, League Cup and a league title in the process, and the former striker knows more than a thing or two about handling a big occasion.

"I've been telling lads to 'Keep your feet on ground and stay focussed' because it is a difficult week. It's unlike the other 32 weeks of the season because you're coming to the final week where all of a sudden the league is at stake.

"I believe that if they keep their feet on the ground and work very hard, we're in with a good chance."

"The important thing is we've a really talented squad. Crucially, they work really hard. There's no egos, they're all very level-headed guys and as a group they've fought really hard together.

"I believe if you've talent and work hard then anything is possible. To get to this stage is an incredible achievement by the lads and they deserve it.

"We've one game to go and it's still in Dundalk's hands but we can still go there and win the league, that's all that matters."

Dundalk v Cork City, live on RTÉ2 from 7.30pm on Friday.

Kenny and Caulfield

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