By Liam Mackey

If losing in Derry was a wake-up call for Cork City, they have certainly responded to the sound of the alarm in the best possible way, by following up a 6-0 thrashing of Longford Town at home with a first away win in Dundalk since 2009.

The three points secured in a 0-1 win at Oriel Park on Friday night not only saw City register their first league victory over the champions in John Caulfield’s time as manager but also sent the Rebels to the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division on goal difference.

"It was a difficult start to the season so it was important to show that the performance in the President's Cup was not a fluke,” says Caulfield, referring to City’s 2-0 victory over Dundalk in the new season’s curtain-raiser at Turner’s Cross.

"For us to go to Oriel with a number of injuries - Gearoid (Morrissey) and Gavan (Holohan) not making it and Danny Morrissey having to pull out before kick-off and Steven Beattie carrying a knock - and produce a performance like that, and win was big. It's only the start of the season and there's a long way to go but it might show to others that if you go there and be positive you have a chance of winning.”

Caulfield suggests that there are some on Leeside who have unreal expectations of City.

"Our own supporters are really good, strong people and they know difficult it is. But there are people around the city who make stupid comments and don't have the real interest of the club at heart. They say 'they're going to win the league', 'they're going to do this'. We've won two leagues in our history which shows just how difficult it is.

"There was a lot of stuff written after beating Dundalk in the President's Cup and Bohs (in the opening league game) that was pure nonsensical. Coming out of Derry gave us a lot of questions. It was important to have a good reaction and in the space of seven days we have had two good results. We are happy with that."

The call-up of Kevin O’Connor and Sean Maguire to the Irish U21s means that what should have been Cork’s next fixture, against Shamrock Rovers, originally scheduled for next Saturday, has been deferred but Caulfield is pleased with the international recognition for his players, especially for former Dundalk man Maguire, whose penalty –his fourth goal in four league outings for Cork – decided Friday’s game.

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Tonight's win was Cork City's first victory over Dundalk in the league since October 2012

— Barry O' Mahony (@barryomahony4) March 18, 2016

“It was good for Maguire to score after being called into the Irish Under-21 team,” says Caulfield. “Sometimes I feel a lot of these guys called into the Irish Under-21 team are called in from England where they play one game a month or academy football. Maguire has been playing five or six games in a row, scoring goals, he's at the peak of his game.

“In my opinion the League of Ireland lads are probably better to play with the Irish Under-21 team than some of the English players but Kinger (Irish U21 manager Noel King) says I'm giving him a pain in the ear because I'm always onto him about it.”

Meanwhile, Stephen Kenny says his Dundalk side will have to “dust themselves down” after a rare setback, as they prepare for another big game, away to St Patrick’s Athletic, on Thursday.

“It’s our second defeat in 48 games in the league and FAI Cup and I didn’t think we deserved to lose the game - in fact I know we didn’t,” says Kenny. “We have to look at why we didn’t create chances in the last 20 minutes but some of our play was excellent and a lot of good things came from it.

“We’re disappointed to lose the game. I thought it was a harsh defeat and a harsh penalty, but Cork are a good side. They have been for the last few years.”