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"I hope lessons have been learned" - Cork City's Alan Bennett celebrates bridging 12 year league title gap

He's had to wait 12 years but in the end, Alan Bennett has been able to get his hands on a League...



"I hope lessons have been...
Soccer

"I hope lessons have been learned" - Cork City's Alan Bennett celebrates bridging 12 year league title gap

He's had to wait 12 years but in the end, Alan Bennett has been able to get his hands on a League of Ireland winners medal once again. 

The Cork City native was involved when the club last won the league in 2005 and having spent his career at clubs in England between 2007 and 2014.

But having returned to his hometown club Cork in 2015, he has played a part in John Caulfield's revival of the team's fortunes which has culminated in a long-awaited league title secured last night after three consecutive runners-up finishes to Dundalk previously.

After last night's full time whistle against Derry City at Turner's Cross, Bennett reflected on the achievement with our own Oisin Langan. 

"It's amazing. Two league medals for this club. I don't know how many Cork City players have done it and it's something that I'm really, really proud of," Bennett told Oisin under the Turner's Cross lights as the achievement sank in.  

 

Of course, in between the 2005 and 2017 triumphs, there was a low point for Cork City when they faced financial difficulties, relegation and a winding up order in 2008-2010.

Bennett, who was playing in England at the time, hopes those lessons have now been taken on board as Cork City look to build on this latest triumph.

"I just hopes the lessons have been learned, I really do. As a fan of this club, I want a Cork City that's moving forward and that's what John is doing and that's one of his strengths. He's really setting standards and foundations that this club can be built on and I just hope lessons have been learned, I really do," he said, before praising the work of Caulfield.

"John signed me, he brought me in and he's absolutely relentless. That's one of his major strengths. Every single day there's an intensity about him, every single day. I'm a 36 year old centre half and some days you come in and you're tired and you're wrecked and you don't want to even look at football and then 15 minutes in a meeting with John, it just turns around and you want to go out and train. That's just his strength."   

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