Yesterday marked 11 years to the day since a 1-1 draw with Cypriot champions Apollon Limassol sent Damien Richardson’s side into the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
The GSP Stadium, where Cork City eliminated Apollon Limassol from the Champions League qualifiers in 2006. DPA / PA Images
DPA / PA Images / PA Images
The result was one of the most significant in the club’s history in European competition. They’ll need another one tonight if their Europa League campaign is to continue into a third round, but this time the circumstances are weighted against them.
In 2006 they brought a 1-0 lead to the GSP Stadium in Nicosia thanks to Billy Woods’ first-leg strike at Turner’s Cross. Polish international Lukasz Sosin levelled the tie in Cyprus before Dan Murray headed in Neale Fenn’s corner to win the tie for City.
It’s a tall order tonight for the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division leaders, however, as the one-goal advantage on this occasion belongs to hosts AEK Larnaca. A scrappy 70th-minute effort from former Villarreal defender Joan Truyols was the only goal of the first leg on Leeside seven days ago.
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After the game, City manager John Caulfield lamented the absence of central defender Alan Bennett. However, the 35-year-old looks set to play in tonight’s second leg at the 7,500-capacity AEK Arena (6.00pm Irish time, eir Sport) after returning from injury for Sunday’s 2-0 Premier Division victory over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.
Having played against Apollon Limassol in Cyprus just over a decade ago, Bennett’s experience could be a significant addition for a Cork City side whose average age in the first leg was 24, compared to 30 for their seasoned opponents. City goalkeeper Mark McNulty was also involved against Apollon but only as an unused substitute.
AEK Larnaca, whose side at Turner’s Cross featured five full internationals and five players with experience of Spain’s La Liga, are in pole position to progress to a third-round tie against Rabotnicki (Macedonia) or Dinamo Minsk (Belarus).
“We have pace and energy but we need to be compact. We will be dangerous, certainly on the counter attack, with the type of players we have. But it is going to be difficult,” admitted Caulfield.
“When you’re playing teams with five internationals who are of a higher standard than you, you have to play to your best. You need everything going well for you. Of course we’ll have a go off it and we’ll go out with a gameplan but it is going to be difficult. There’s no point in saying otherwise.”
Stephen Dooley of Cork City under pressure from AEK Larnaca's Joan Truyols during last week's first leg. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
Only once before have Cork City overturned a first-leg deficit to progress in Europe — and Caulfield was involved then as a player. After losing 3-2 in Wales to Cwmbran Town in 1993, late goals from Johnny Glynn and Pat Morley sent City through to a Champions League tie against Galatasaray via away goals, after Cwmbran had extended their lead early in the second leg at Turner’s Cross.
AEK Larnaca’s imposing French striker Florian Taulemesse posed plenty of problems for City last week, while additional threats came through midfield from Joan Tomas, Hector Hevel and Macedonian international Ivan Trickovski.
A technically superior team in their ability to dominate possession, AEK Larnaca are likely to force Cork City to be patient in their search for the goal they need to get back into the tie. Temperatures of over 30 degrees celsius will form an extra obstacle for the visitors.
AEK Larnaca were the first team to hold Cork City goalless at Turner’s Cross since last August, but Sean Maguire did ask them questions. Tonight, Maguire will play his final game for City before departing for Preston North End with left-back Kevin O’Connor.
Kevin O'Connor and Sean Maguire bidding farewell to the Turner's Cross crowd after the first leg. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
Maguire has scored 26 times in all competitions in 2017 but he’s eager to leave the club with a parting gift of keeping them in the Europa League for one more round at least.
The 23-year-old striker said: “We won’t fear them at all. We know that we can go out there and put on a show and beat them. Last week it was pretty even. Hopefully we help the club progress in the Europa League and then go into Preston and hit the ground running.”
Parting gift from Maguire can send Cork City down Cyprus avenue to success
CORK CITY HAVE fond memories of Cyprus.
Yesterday marked 11 years to the day since a 1-1 draw with Cypriot champions Apollon Limassol sent Damien Richardson’s side into the second qualifying round of the Champions League.
The result was one of the most significant in the club’s history in European competition. They’ll need another one tonight if their Europa League campaign is to continue into a third round, but this time the circumstances are weighted against them.
In 2006 they brought a 1-0 lead to the GSP Stadium in Nicosia thanks to Billy Woods’ first-leg strike at Turner’s Cross. Polish international Lukasz Sosin levelled the tie in Cyprus before Dan Murray headed in Neale Fenn’s corner to win the tie for City.
It’s a tall order tonight for the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division leaders, however, as the one-goal advantage on this occasion belongs to hosts AEK Larnaca. A scrappy 70th-minute effort from former Villarreal defender Joan Truyols was the only goal of the first leg on Leeside seven days ago.
After the game, City manager John Caulfield lamented the absence of central defender Alan Bennett. However, the 35-year-old looks set to play in tonight’s second leg at the 7,500-capacity AEK Arena (6.00pm Irish time, eir Sport) after returning from injury for Sunday’s 2-0 Premier Division victory over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds.
Having played against Apollon Limassol in Cyprus just over a decade ago, Bennett’s experience could be a significant addition for a Cork City side whose average age in the first leg was 24, compared to 30 for their seasoned opponents. City goalkeeper Mark McNulty was also involved against Apollon but only as an unused substitute.
AEK Larnaca, whose side at Turner’s Cross featured five full internationals and five players with experience of Spain’s La Liga, are in pole position to progress to a third-round tie against Rabotnicki (Macedonia) or Dinamo Minsk (Belarus).
“We have pace and energy but we need to be compact. We will be dangerous, certainly on the counter attack, with the type of players we have. But it is going to be difficult,” admitted Caulfield.
“When you’re playing teams with five internationals who are of a higher standard than you, you have to play to your best. You need everything going well for you. Of course we’ll have a go off it and we’ll go out with a gameplan but it is going to be difficult. There’s no point in saying otherwise.”
Only once before have Cork City overturned a first-leg deficit to progress in Europe — and Caulfield was involved then as a player. After losing 3-2 in Wales to Cwmbran Town in 1993, late goals from Johnny Glynn and Pat Morley sent City through to a Champions League tie against Galatasaray via away goals, after Cwmbran had extended their lead early in the second leg at Turner’s Cross.
AEK Larnaca’s imposing French striker Florian Taulemesse posed plenty of problems for City last week, while additional threats came through midfield from Joan Tomas, Hector Hevel and Macedonian international Ivan Trickovski.
A technically superior team in their ability to dominate possession, AEK Larnaca are likely to force Cork City to be patient in their search for the goal they need to get back into the tie. Temperatures of over 30 degrees celsius will form an extra obstacle for the visitors.
AEK Larnaca were the first team to hold Cork City goalless at Turner’s Cross since last August, but Sean Maguire did ask them questions. Tonight, Maguire will play his final game for City before departing for Preston North End with left-back Kevin O’Connor.
Maguire has scored 26 times in all competitions in 2017 but he’s eager to leave the club with a parting gift of keeping them in the Europa League for one more round at least.
The 23-year-old striker said: “We won’t fear them at all. We know that we can go out there and put on a show and beat them. Last week it was pretty even. Hopefully we help the club progress in the Europa League and then go into Preston and hit the ground running.”
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