Devine injury the only blemish on Cork’s perfect evening

Brendan O’Brien

The previously stifling temperatures dropped compliantly, the performance was first class and the result could hardly have been better.

Even Lady Luck seemed to favour them in Lithuania with Ekranas twice striking a goalpost, in front of a crowd of 4,000.

“I’m pleased with the result but I’m even more pleased with the performance,” said manager Damien Richardson. “In European football, you need two essentials. You need the concentration to keep your performance levels high and you need patience to keep the ball and wait for the opportunity to score to present itself.

“We created chances and scored two exceptional goals. We also got the breaks and that’s as important as anything else in football. Ekranas hit the woodwork on two crucial occasions.”

The shoulder injury picked up by goalkeeper Michael Devine was the only real minus. Devine was able to return to Cork with the squad last night but it remains to be seen how much damage has been done.

For every cloud there is a silver lining and Richardson was delighted to see Phil Harrington trot on as a replacement five years after his last competitive senior outing with Cork.

“Michael’s injury was a big blow for us but it allowed something special to happen for someone so highly regarded in the Eircom League. I managed Phil Harrington 10-12 years ago and him coming on was the icing on the cake, a fairytale ending.”

Another success for Richardson was the decision to replace the absent Neale Fenn with Greg O’Halloran in a defensive midfield role that saw City adopt a hugely effective 4-5-1 formation.

“Greg’s distribution was excellent. We needed a player like that in there to allow George (O’Callaghan) do his stuff further forward. Colin O’Brien was unlucky not to come in there but his lack of match practice counted against him.”

FK Ekranas manager Virginijus Liubsys was left to rue his side’s near misses and accepted that the result leaves them with an unenviable task when they make the journey to Ireland for the second leg in a fortnight’s time.

“I want to celebrate Cork’s win today. They used every situation that came their way very well. At some times we tuned out from the game. At 0-0 we missed a good chance but we weren’t able to do anything with their number 10 (O’Callaghan). He did everything he wanted to do. 2-0 leaves us in bad condition but we will still not come to lose, we will come to fight.” Cork are all but certain of a place in the first round proper, though Richardson preached caution.

“It will encourage a big crowd at Turner’s Cross and that will make the chairman very happy. It was an expensive trip. It cost something like 75,000 to come out here and I’m pleased for him. He deserves a full house in Turner’s Cross because this tie is only halfway over. Ekranas showed they have players that can do an excellent job for them.”