SETANTA CUP Cork City 1 Cliftonville 0:AFTER watching his side begin their Setanta Sports Cup defence with a win over Cliftonville at Turner's Cross on Saturday evening, Cork City manager Paul Doolin described the situation at the club as embarrassing and mentally draining.
Having avoided a High Court winding-up order last month, squad and staff have yet to receive their August wages. The players will meet chairman Tom Coughlan and general secretary of the PFAI Stephen McGuinness today to discuss the situation.
“The way things are is embarrassing and it’s mentally draining on everyone,” said Doolin. “It’s too much for players to be dealing with on a daily basis. The players have been great but nobody likes to work for nothing. We’re in a good position in the league in terms of challenging for Europe but we certainly have no chance of doing that if things continue the way they are.”
It’s been 10 months since Cork were crowned Setanta Cup champions with victory over Glentoran at Turner’s Cross, and Doolin started with just five players who began that match in November for Saturday’s tie.
The only goal game arrived in the 37th minute, courtesy of a rare Joe Gamble strike as Billy Dennehy teed up the Ireland international for his first goal in over a year.
CORK CITY: McNulty; Horgan, O'Halloran, Murray, Murphy; ONeill (Kiely, 58 mins), Lordan, Gamble, Dennehy, Kuduzovic, Cambridge (Duggan, 69 mins).
CLIFTONVILLE: Connolly; Smyth, O'Hara, Donaghy, R Scannell (B Holland, 70 mins); McMullan, Catney, Caldwell, Murphy (Dunlop, 80 mins); M Holland (Clarke, 80 mins), C Scannell.
Referee: Richie Winter(Dublin).
