They finally did it.
After a nervous couple of weeks where their lead at the top of the SSE Airtricity League table - which sat at 17 points at one stage - was whittled down to just six points, a 0-0 draw with Derry City was enough to see Cork City over the line and earn their first league title since 2005.
The departure of Kevin O'Connor and Seanie Maguire did have an impact on results and performances - as it was always going to given the quality of both players - but the 22 game unbeaten run at the start of the season meant that John Caulfield's men could not be caught.
Speaking to RTE after the game, the Cork City manager heaped praise on his players for their tremendous season, and Dundalk for never giving up and putting the pressure on.
"We felt we could go to another level" - Cork City manager John Caulfield on winning the Airtricity League Premier Division. pic.twitter.com/bqRPsPCwNq
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) October 17, 2017
Seanie Maguire lead the tributes on social media as he expressed his delight at seeing his former teammates get over the line.
Couldn’t be happier for everyone involved with the club. From the staff to the fans Enjoy the celebrations @CorkCityFC
— Seani Maguire (@Seani_Maguire_) October 17, 2017
CHAMPIONS
— Seani Maguire (@Seani_Maguire_) October 17, 2017
Incredible scenes as @CorkCityFC celebrate their first Premier Division title in 12 years! pic.twitter.com/lM8vQ9fKBK
— SSEAirtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) October 17, 2017
Great to see @KieranSadlier @keojim & @AchilleCampion Win the @SSEAirtricityLg with Cork City tonight, Top Pro's enjoy the celebrations
— Dave Robertson (@DaveRobertson11) October 17, 2017
Congratulations to Cork City on winning the league. They were the better team this season (with Maguire). We will be back for our title.
— Allan Mathews (@allanmathews125) October 17, 2017
Congratulations Cork City......2017 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division Champions! Got there in the end!
— Barry O' Mahony (@barryomahony4) October 17, 2017
Champions! #CCFC84 pic.twitter.com/JHAUdqyXIw
— Cork City FC (@CorkCityFC) October 17, 2017
Congratulations to Cork City, it may have been a long time coming, but it would have still felt incredibly sweet for all involved to take the league title back down to Cork.
