Tallaght Stadium hero Darragh Crowley reckons Cork City are beginning to show their Premier Division pedigree.
The Leesiders are undefeated in their last two games - including last Monday’s thrilling 4-4 draw with Shamrock Rovers - as they travel to face Sligo Rovers tonight.
Having recovered from back-to-back defeats against Bohemians and Derry City, Crowley believes they are on track for a strong campaign back in the top-flight.
“It's been tough,” he said of the step up from the First Division. “Obviously, the standard is higher and pace is higher.
“But even (against Rovers), drawing and scoring four goals in Tallaght against the reigning champions, it shows we're well up there and well-able.
“We haven't had the easiest of starts. Obviously, the first game against Bohs wasn't a good performance. Derry away is a tough fixture for anyone.
“So we've four points now in the last two games so it obviously shows that we're well-equipped.
“Last season obviously we would have had a lot of the ball against teams.
“Against teams like Rovers and Derry that's not going to be the case this year, but it's just a different way of playing football.
“Through everyone's career, you don't play the same football all your life. You have to know how to play different ways and how to win in different ways.”
Crowley scored an early goal of the season contender when he lobbed Alan Mannus from just inside the Shamrock Rovers half.
That strike gave Cork a 2-1 half-time lead - and they were 4-2 up with 84 minutes on the clock.
However, they had to settle for a draw and the mood afterwards convinced versatile ace Crowley of City’s ability to compete at the highest level.
“If you're 4-2 up in any game, you look to see it out,” he said.
“But we were put under savage pressure to be fair, but it's disappointing to come away with only one point, which is a good sign for us.
“In the dressing room, it feels like we lost the game, so that just shows where our heads are at this stage.
“Our ambition is to win every game. That has to be our ambition going into every game.
“Even (against Shamrock Rovers), we were coming up to win the game, we weren't coming up to get a point or anything like that.
“We just have to take it game-by-game. We are not looking at just staying up. Cork City is too big a club to just be coming eighth or ninth, and winning the play-off.
“That's not our ambition at all.”
As for his wonder-goal, Crowley added: “Obviously, I saw the 'keeper came out, poor clearance and I just said to myself if my first touch is good, I'll have a go.
“I thought it was over but it just crept under the bar... I obviously meant it.
“It probably is (my best goal), yeah. I had another good one last year against Longford down in Turner's Cross. But that's definitely the best.”
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