WE ARE STAYING UP SAID WE ARE STAYING UP!!!
Yes, I think it is fair to say that Cork City will not be playing in the First Division for the 2018 season, as they have hit the ‘magic’ 40 point mark...after 13 games.
For me, that game last night was the best City have looked all season. Not a single player (bar Achille Campion), put a foot wrong last night and the scoreline actually flattered the visiting team. It could have been easily double figures, but I reckon with two important games next week, they did not want to exert too much energy.
Where to start? Stephen Dooley was simply unplayable last night in the first half. All four of City’s first half goals came from the Derry man on the left, and I just think Drogheda could not contain him. With all the talk of Sean Maguire not being called up into the Irish side, I’m very surprised that Dooley has not been in the mix for the Northern Ireland national team. If he keeps these types of performances up, it could only be a matter of time before he hears from Michael O’Neill.
I think one thing that last night showed is how much quality we have in midfield. Despite the fact both Conor McCormack and Gearoid Morrissey were missing, Jimmy Keohane and Greg Bolger slotted straight in, and it looked as if they were playing in there every week. In my opinion, The Rebel Army have the best midfield in the league.
If it were not for the exploits of Sean Maguire this season, I think all the eyes would be on Karl Sheppard. I can not think of a player, in any league, that has gone so far under the radar then the former Reading man. He has been awesome all season, and both his goals were stuff of pure beauty, especially his second.
It is rather difficult to pick out a player who stood out in the back line because, in all honest, they had very little to do, but when they were called upon, they did their job well. I do want to give a shout out though to Rimvydas Sadauskas. That would have been the perfect game to get him to grips with the league, but instead we did the opposite.
As for Drogheda, I think it’s going to be a long season for them, based on that performance anyway. Adam Wixted looked lively enough and Stephen McGuinness did not have the worst of games, if he had a better defence in front of him, I think he could be one of the league's top keepers, but unfortunately for him, he was not getting any help at all from the majority of the 10 players in front of him.
Sligo is the next port of call for John Caulfield and his men, as they will travel to The Showground to take on the Bit O’Red. We will have LIVE coverage of that game with Kev on Monday, with the game kicking off at 7:45.
Photo Credit: Doug Minihane