I have always loved the unpredictability of cup football. Cork City's superb win in Derry on Tuesday night epitomised just exactly how the fortunes of sport can fluctuate even during moments of great trial.

Having to travel the length and breadth of the country by bus was not the most ideal preparation. Throw in the long injury list compromising some important players and to further complicate the bizarre circumstances, City were playing the present cup specialists in their own backyard, then one has to hand it to the team for producing a performance that will have surprised many around the country.

However, there should be no surprise, and there will be no surprise for those that know this group of players. This team has for the past four years housed many of the best players in the country. The quality of the players and the character that they have displayed consistently in bringing great success to the City and County of Cork has gained them a serious amount of respect throughout the land.

Ok, the tribulations that arrived this season due to the torrid financial circumstances and the background of uncertainty and poor administration have of course contrived to manufacture great challenges for all concerned, but the manner of this victory and the fact that the Setanta final will take place in Turner's Cross on November 1st will ensure that respect is regenerated.

Over and above the on-field quality of the Cork City players the undeniable fact that they can produce performances based on sheer honesty and integrity is perhaps the most commendable aspect of this most difficult season. It is in moments of doubt that genuine character emerges.

In the run up to last season's FAI Cup win there was huge pressure on the players of Cork City. There were some horrendous things going on in the background, things that could not be spoken about publicly because of the disruptive effect it would have had in the weeks before the Cup Final itself. The players were determined that nothing, or perhaps more truthfully, nobody, would be allowed to throw a spanner in the works. Consequently each and every player retained a most impressive manner of professionalism and went on and brought the FAI Cup back to the Rebel County.

In modern professional football the value of integrity is of paramount importance. While one could be forgiven for thinking integrity is a misplaced talent in the game today, in truth it is alive and vibrant in The eircom League of Ireland.

Most of the clubs concerned in the League have faced financial problems. While many of the members of the media have focused on this in a negative and even distressed fashion, the reality is something different, in my opinion anyway.

The harsh fact of life is that too many managers and directors running our clubs have behaved in a naïve manner. The salaries being paid to players are far too high and while a very few players will prosper through this selfishness, the majority will eventually lose out. My worry is that the integrity and honesty referred to above is being taken advantage of and this can only go on for so long.