John Caulfield opens up about the pleasures and pressures of managing Cork City

The Liam Mackey interview: At the end of a momentous year for the club, John Caulfield talks candidly about the pleasures and pressures of managing Cork City. ‘When we were appointed I remember saying ‘people in the League of Ireland think we haven’t a clue’.

The glittering prizes stand side by side on a table in Cork City’s headquarters in Bishopstown, home again from a mini-tour of Donegal where they were in the safe hands of club captain Johnny Dunleavy. “Savage”, he says with a grin, describing the proud experience of getting to show off the League and FAI Cup back in his native place.

After Dunleavy drops off the silverware, he picks up his own reward: A new contract with City which, hopefully, will see him back in the colours in March once he has fully recovered from the serious knee injury which made the club’s doubly triumphant 2017 such a bittersweet season for him.