Greg Bolger: Seán Maguire deserves another shot cross-channel

In the aftermath of Cork City’s stunning FAI Cup final victory, John Caulfield hinted that goalscoring hero Seán Maguire could do worse than hang around Turner’s Cross a while longer.

But Greg Bolger feels the youngster has earned another shot across the water.

Maguire spent time with West Ham United after coming to prominence with Waterford United, as well as another loan spell at Accrington Stanley, but 29 goals in a Cork shirt this term may well give him some cross-channel options to consider over the close season.

His performance against Dundalk in Sunday’s final was by no means his best — he was the first to admit it afterwards — but Maguire’s instincts and perseverance bought him the glory with an injury-time winner after 120 energy-sapping minutes at the Aviva Stadium.

For Bolger, there was a hint of deja vu about the manner in which victory was claimed.

Two years ago, it was Christy Fagan who settled the decider against Derry City when the pair were at St Patrick’s Athletic, netting a second at the death when the Candystripes went probing for an equaliser.

“Both teams were tired in extra-time but I felt if we got a chance it would fall in,” said Bolger. “It took an age to go in but I’m delighted for Seánie … hopefully he gets his just rewards and gets a move because he deserves it.”

Whatever about Maguire, the reality is that both teams will see the dressing-room door swing both ways.

Cork and Dundalk added men last winter who went on to become key players — none more so than Bolger who arrived from Inchicore and Maguire who clocked in from Oriel Park.

This close season will be different in the sense that Dundalk will be going to market with an extra €6m-plus in their bank account thanks to their Champions League and Europa League runs.

It is a sum that dwarfs even that of Cork who made some profit from their own European odyssey.

“Dundalk are going to strengthen again with the money they’ve taken in,” said Bolger. “They have ambitions of progressing again and going further so we’ll have to bring in a few to stay the pace with them. That’s up to John now to get a few players in and a bit more quality as well.

“Dundalk probably have the upperhand with the money and the club. We need to strengthen as they will. Hopefully we can keep pace again and see how it goes.

“It’s a good rivalry to have, up north and down south or whatever with Cork and Dundalk.”

So, Cork needed this one. Badly. Bolger admits it would have made for a bleak winter had this final gone against them. The worth of this win is incalculable after three years chasing Dundalk’s tails and, though there is merit in claims that the losers played the better football on the day, there is no denying the fact Cork had bided enough time.

For Bolger, there was vindication, too.The central midfielder chose Leeside because he wanted to join a club capable of claiming silverware and he played through the pain barrier of a quad injury — having done something similar during their European run — in an attempt to make that happen. Bettering Dundalk only adds to the sense of satisfaction.

“There are two trophies you want to win at the start of the year — the league and the cup. They are special days and we’ve brought Dundalk the whole way. That’s the fourth time we’ve beat them this year, that’s the sickening thing.

“To be fair to Dundalk, I will give them all the credit in the world because they deserve their successes. They are definitely the best side the League of Ireland has produced. I don’t know what teams were like back when I wasn’t playing but in my time in the league, they are the top.

“They are like a European team. I’ve played in a lot of European games with Pat’s and they are right up there with their movement - Horgan and McEleney coming off the wings. They will test you and ask questions of you that other teams wouldn’t.

“Credit to them but I really think we deserve this because of the work we put in. We brought them right to the final weeks of the season, beat them four times out of five and still came up short. But we beat them (in the final) and it’s credit to us. We need to get serious credit for sticking in there that long.”