Cork City manager Ger Nash is hoping to use this Saturday's FAI Cup final as a springboard for his side to return to the SSE Airtricity Premier Division at the first time of asking.
The Rebels third relegation in six seasons was confirmed midway through October and they last won a league game in August, beating second from bottom Waterford 2-0.
However Cork’s Cup form has been in marked contrast and Nash’s side raised plenty of eyebrows with their 3-0 victory over heavily-fancied St Patrick’s Athletic in the semi-final.
Nash, who took charge of City in May, filling the vacancy left by Tim Clancy, admits that relegation is a major blow but he feels that victory in the Cup final would temper that, and give them real momentum heading into a season in the First Division.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, Nash said; " We were hugely disappointed. The aim when I came in was to stay up, nobody wants a relegation. We worked really hard to ensure that wasn’t the case but we weren’t good enough and we have to own that and accept that.
"We have to take the lessons from it and learn from and make sure that when this club comes back up, it comes back up stronger.
"The league table doesn’t lie. We finished where we finished in the league and that’s where we deserve to finish, we have to accept that.
"We know we're going to a tough league with lots of good managers in there but we need to bring this club back up. That’s what our focus is on.
"As tough a year as it has been and as disappointing a year as it has it's been, one thing we have done in the second half of season is really promoted young players and tried to give them opportunities. I think a lot of the young players will be better for that.
"They’ve played half a season now in the Premier Division and that should stand to them. There’s a lot of Cork lads who came through our academy and the decision we made was that short term it might be tough for them but longer term, I think we’ll get some success next season."
City have an impressive record in finals in the last decade or so, lifting the FAI Cup in 2016 and 2017, along with three consecutive President’s Cups between 2016 and 2018.
While cup success is new to Nash, he’s eager to draw on Cork's recent glories and is hoping to secure European football next season, the spoils of which would help negate the financial difficulties of relegation.
"Since the semi-final, the build-up has surprised me to be honest," he said. "I've not been to an FAI Cup final before, but the buzz around town you can feel it, and around the country too.
"It's a massive opportunity for us, a chance to put some respect on the club's name after relegation and a chance to be in Europe and to win a trophy.
"That what we want to do. That's what this club has been used to in the last decade, it’s been used to being in Cup finals and we’re desperate to win it."
Standing in Cork’s way are the Premier Division champions Shamrock Rovers and while Stephen Bradley’s men may not be going into the final in top form, they remain heavy favourites to lift the trophy.
Cork have a decent record against Stephen Bradley’s men this campaign, considering the gulf between the two sides in the league with two draws and two defeats from their four games and Nash is happy that his side’s underdog status plays into their favour.
"Stephen, we know the job he's done and his staff, and all his players, they’re serial winners so we know the strength of them. We have to focus on us, Shamrock Rovers are a really successful side but we’re focusing on us.
"In every round in this competition apart from the first round, we weren’t favourites, every team was expected to beat us. The league table doesn’t lie but we’re one of the top two teams in this competition and we deserve to be there.
"We’re fully focused on us and on producing our best football, putting in the performance and getting the win."
Watch Republic of Ireland v Panama in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup on Wednesday from 12.20pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport
Watch Manchester City v Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday from 7pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport
Watch the Sports Direct FAI Cup final, Shamrock Rovers v Cork City, on Sunday from 2pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
