John Caulfield: Europa League travel won’t hinder Dundalk

Cork City manager John Caulfield insists he’d happily swap his team’s home-based FAI Cup final preparation for Dundalk’s daunting midweek European adventure.

“Would I like to be in Zenit on Thursday playing Europa League? I certainly would,” he said yesterday. “I’ve no doubt about that because that’s another round in Europe, where you want to be.”

Dundalk embarked on their long trip to St Petersburg yesterday and will make the return journey on Friday, just 48 hours before the newly crowned league champions take on their arch-rivals City in the final glamour game of the domestic season.