Steven pleased to get a Beattie the action in Cup triumph

As someone who had to watch on helpless last year due to being cup tied, Steven Beattie was more than fired up to get his chance to go out onto the Aviva Stadium pitch this time around.

After suffering so much heartbreak at the hands of Dundalk over the past few years, Beattie and his City teammates proved on Sunday they can beat their Lilywhite opponents when it matters, when there is a trophy at stake.

When Sean Maguire secured the most dramatic of cup victories in the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, Cork had the final say in what was a memorable season for Dundalk and have issued their challenge to them for next season.

There is no doubt that Beattie will be waiting and ready to help launch a Leeside tilt at the Premier Division Title in 2017.

Speaking to Extratime.ie after the game, Beattie said: “Last year was tough, watching the lads in the dressing room and I didn’t want to see that again. The lads were distraught and for me, personally, I told everyone from the very start the reason I came to Cork City was to win trophies.

“Arguably Dundalk are the best team around. Look what they have done in Europe at the moment. We could have thrown in the towel during extra time. We could have felt sorry for ourselves, after having chances to win it.

“But that just shows you the attitude of the boys. We kept the heads down and kept working and we got the goal that our play deserved.”

Although City have closed the gap between themselves and Dundalk to very fine margins, before Sunday Caulfield’s side had no trophies to show for their hard work.

“The boys in that dressing room deserve every bit of that. I thought in the first half we gave them too much respect. We sat off them and didn’t play our game. John got us in a half time and changed things around.

“We pressed them very high and I don’t think they dealt very well with that. Everyone could see that we pushed and we could have taken the lead in normal time. The lads showed fantastic attitude,” said the former Bohemians man.

Beattie had special praise for the matchwinner. Sean Maguire added his sixth FAI Cup goal of the year to his 18 league goals to cap off a sensational season.

“I am delighted for Sean Maguire. He has been our best player all season long. To cap it off with a goal in the Aviva Stadium was just something special for him.

“Hopefully he will stay with us for another season, but if he does move onto bigger and better things he deserves every single bit of it.”