A case of the inevitable but also what's possible for Cork City.
Even when you're down there is often a shining light, rays that glisten on the back of a good cup run. The Rebels are in that space.
Relegation from the Premier Division now a near certainty but on Friday evening there is a Sports Direct FAI Cup semi-final to look forward to. St Patrick's Athletic are the visitors to Turner's Cross, 11 days on from Stephen Kenny's side recording a 4-0 league win over their Munster opponents at Richmond Park.
The match, however, is subject to a pitch inspection in the morning upon the arrival of Storm Amy.
Before that reverse by the banks of the Camac, Cork took eight points from five games. Definite signs of life, yes, but the thumping in Inchicore was then followed by defeat away to Galway United.
Injuries to Ruairí Keating and Cathal O'Sullivan have not helped Cork's cause this term, with their wretched away form also contributing to them propping up the top-tier table. Home comforts have been kinder: just four defeats at the Cross up to now.
In advance of the semi-final, manager Ger Nash was bullish as to their chances, telling a media call that "we are fully focused on winning the game".
Nash's bullishness stems, in the main, from recent results at home. A marked contrast to the one win and nine losses from their last ten games on the road.
"We've won three and drawn one of the last four at home and that gives us confidence," Nash remarked.
"Since the window closed we've been in good form here. The fans have been a huge part of that and the synergy between them and the players has been really strong. It helps us that our fans are really passionate about their football club, that also helps the young players, and hopefully we can feed off that.
"We are desperate to put on a performance for them and get the right result on Friday night."
The late Bill Shankly, amongst his many quotes on life and football, said: "Football is a simple game made complicated by people who should know better".
The Cork boss took a similar line when asked about formations in the wake of that recent defeat to St Pat's.
"The principles of the game are simple and I don't think it matters what formation you play," Nash replied.
"Up in Dublin, we didn't do the basics well enough. The basics of the game, that being defensively secure, and being able to create chances. Formations are irrelevant if you don't get the basics right.
"The key thing that we have done in recent weeks, that we went away from in the Pat's game, was our competitiveness and being in the game. We gave away some really poor goals, this after a couple of clean sheets at home. We conceded a goal against Shamrock Rovers but we showed spirit to come back and get something from the game. We have to be in the game and be competitive and that's a big part of our focus going into Friday night."
On Saturday last, Nash had another look at Pat's, this time at the Sligo Showgrounds, where they slipped to a 1-0 defeat.
Still, the assessment on them is positive. "A dangerous team that can hurt you," the overall summation.
The expectation is that we'll have a Shamrock Rovers v St Pat's decider at the Aviva on 9 November.
Nash understands that. But he does not want the journey that he and Cork have been on to stop now.
"I believe we have players that can hurt the opposition and stop their attacking threat. We have a chance to create something special on this FAI Cup run. We travelled up to Donegal (against Finn Harps) and put in a performance there and had a late winner against Waterford in front of our fans at the Shed End.
We want to keep those moments going. We need to perform. I'm desperate for the game, can't wait for it to start."
Watch the Sports Direct FAI Cup semi-finals with RTÉ Sport. Cork City v St Patrick's Athletic on Friday from 7pm and Shamrock Rovers v Kerry on Sunday from 5.30pm. Both matches also on RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport
