Table-topping Doolin keeps his eye on the ball

EVERYTHING is falling into place for Cork City on the pitch as the club battles fresh financial turmoil off it.

Following the Leesiders’ 1-0 win over Derry City at Turner’s Cross on Friday, Shamrock Rovers’ smash-and-grab defeat of Bohemians in Tallaght 24 hours later ensured that Cork remain three points clear of the reigning champions at the top of the League of Ireland.

Behind the scenes, the club’s owners might be attempting to stave off a winding-up order from the Revenue Commissioners, but manager Paul Doolin, delighted with his side’s win against Derry, insists that all he and his players can do is, literally, continue to keep their eye on the ball.

“What it says in the papers is all we can go by,” says Doolin of the latest instability at Turner’s Cross, “but when all is said and done, we’ve been paid, we have to play football and that’s what we’ve done. Nobody likes it, it doesn’t help us but hopefully it will be sorted out.”

Doolin believes that the team’s current success is all the more admirable because of the uncertainty behind the scenes.

“People think things are going smoothly because we’ve won eight and drawn one in the league,” he says. “But it’s been difficult. Sometimes I think people have other agendas. I started here with the staff two days before pre-season. It hasn’t been easy, I’m a new manager in a new club with a new group of players, I’ve always said it from day one but people take it the wrong way – I felt the players were not up to the physical requirement for full-time players. But they have worked really hard, and they have been outstanding considering there are things going on in the background.

“All you can do is try and keep going and hope things get sorted out. Because it’s a shame, it has had the makings of a good club all through the history of Cork. And the players have been great.”

Doolin hailed the win against Derry on three fronts.

“First and foremost, it got us three points, secondly we’re sitting on top of the league and thirdly we kept another clean sheet. Our defending was fantastic, and some of our play, especially in the first half, was brilliant.

“Again, look at Dan Connor. People might have questioned him after his injury but when he had to do something (on Friday) he made two absolutely phenomenal saves. The second half, their man getting sent off was a bit of a problem for us. It was a little bit backs to the wall but, on another day, they might have drawn that game. So it’s a fantastic result, and a run of 25 points out of 27 is fantastic.”

Asked if he is fearful about the club’s future, Doolin replies: “To be honest, I wouldn’t say I’m fearful because, at the end of the day, I think the league is precarious at the best of times. We’ll wait and see.”

Meanwhile, in other domestic news, the first two quarter-finals in the EA Sports Cup take place this evening with Galway United hosting UCD at Terryland Park and Sporting Fingal welcoming Sligo Rovers to the Morton Stadium. Both games kick off at 7.45pm and, if required, extra-time and penalties will apply.