JOHN CAULFIELD WAS unable to hide his delight in the aftermath of last night’s win for his Cork City side, and understandably so.
Despite entering their Europa League tie against BK Hacken as massive underdogs, City emerged victorious as Kevin O’Connor’s first-half goal sealed a 1-0 win at Turner’s Cross, after last week’s first leg in Gothenburg had finished 1-1.
Hacken qualified for the Europa League thanks to their Swedish Cup victory last season, which was secured by a squad of players which includes full internationals from the likes of Sweden, Finland, Nigeria and Ghana.
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Nevertheless, City wrapped up a 2-1 aggregate win in their 50th game in European competition — a “phenomenal” result according to the man who oversaw it.
“When you play a team like Hacken 10 times, they’ll possibly beat you seven times, possibly eight,” Caulfield said. “But over two games, cup finals, we came through. That’s special.”
Caulfield added: “I told [the players] before the match, ‘Make it a special night for yourselves. You’ll remember it. This crowd may be better, they may have more money, but there’s an opportunity tonight for you to make heroes of yourselves’. It was a special night.”
Caulfield, who is in his third season as manager, put the result in perspective by recalling how Cork City were playing in the First Division only five years ago, having been relegated from the top flight as a consequence of their financial struggles.
“Five or six years ago we were following the team in Mervue, Salthill Devon, in front of 200 people in Athlone,” he said. “The team won eight games in a row this year and equalled a club record. The goals-against is phenomenal. We’ve won European matches in two rounds, which hasn’t been done in the club’s history.
Cork City's Stephen Dooley after the game. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
“We in the management can only work as hard as we can to push the lads. Do we need more players? Would we like more players? Of course we would. But these are the budgets we work within and, at the same time, every fella we have in the club at the moment is giving his heart for the club and his passion for the club.”
Cork City’s next Europa League assignment is in the third qualifying round. They’ll meet KRC Genk in Belgium next Thursday and the return leg will be played in Cork seven days later.
Caulfield, whose second-placed team are six points behind leaders Dundalk in the Premier Division but with a game in hand, said: “At the moment I feel the club is going to a good place. We have to drive it that way and hopefully we can stay up there for a good while yet.”
'They may be better and have more money but it's an opportunity to make heroes of yourselves'
JOHN CAULFIELD WAS unable to hide his delight in the aftermath of last night’s win for his Cork City side, and understandably so.
Despite entering their Europa League tie against BK Hacken as massive underdogs, City emerged victorious as Kevin O’Connor’s first-half goal sealed a 1-0 win at Turner’s Cross, after last week’s first leg in Gothenburg had finished 1-1.
Hacken qualified for the Europa League thanks to their Swedish Cup victory last season, which was secured by a squad of players which includes full internationals from the likes of Sweden, Finland, Nigeria and Ghana.
Nevertheless, City wrapped up a 2-1 aggregate win in their 50th game in European competition — a “phenomenal” result according to the man who oversaw it.
“When you play a team like Hacken 10 times, they’ll possibly beat you seven times, possibly eight,” Caulfield said. “But over two games, cup finals, we came through. That’s special.”
Caulfield added: “I told [the players] before the match, ‘Make it a special night for yourselves. You’ll remember it. This crowd may be better, they may have more money, but there’s an opportunity tonight for you to make heroes of yourselves’. It was a special night.”
Caulfield, who is in his third season as manager, put the result in perspective by recalling how Cork City were playing in the First Division only five years ago, having been relegated from the top flight as a consequence of their financial struggles.
“Five or six years ago we were following the team in Mervue, Salthill Devon, in front of 200 people in Athlone,” he said. “The team won eight games in a row this year and equalled a club record. The goals-against is phenomenal. We’ve won European matches in two rounds, which hasn’t been done in the club’s history.
“We in the management can only work as hard as we can to push the lads. Do we need more players? Would we like more players? Of course we would. But these are the budgets we work within and, at the same time, every fella we have in the club at the moment is giving his heart for the club and his passion for the club.”
Cork City’s next Europa League assignment is in the third qualifying round. They’ll meet KRC Genk in Belgium next Thursday and the return leg will be played in Cork seven days later.
Caulfield, whose second-placed team are six points behind leaders Dundalk in the Premier Division but with a game in hand, said: “At the moment I feel the club is going to a good place. We have to drive it that way and hopefully we can stay up there for a good while yet.”
Cork City eliminate Swedish Cup holders to progress in the Europa League
As it happened: Cork City v BK Hacken, Europa League second qualifying round second leg
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Europa League John Caulfield JOHNNY C League of Ireland LOI SSE Airtricity League Cork City Häcken