Bring on the big guns

Cork City 0 Djurgardens IF (Agg 1-1)

A terrific performance by Damien Richardson’s men saw off the challenge of Djurgardens IF at a packed Turner’s Cross tonight.

A delighted Richardson afterwards hailed the result as a great achievement, not just for Cork City, but for Irish football.

“It was a special night. From the word go, the crowd created a great atmosphere. The players were ready and were fully concentrated. The quality of our performance was epitomised in the second half when we controlled the game, didn’t sit back, kept good possession and created a couple of chances. We also had a bit of luck but I think we got what we deserved,” he said.

“That was a very famous victory for Cork City Football Club and for the eircom League.”

Richardson declined to state a preference in today’s draw, opting instead for diplomacy.

“I’m a great believer in taking what you get.”

But he reiterated his belief that the club’s European exploits point to something of a revolution in the domestic game.

“On the back of what Shelbourne have done and now this achievement, we know what the possibilities are. The future is very exciting and it’s not based on the ancient League of Ireland tradition of just defending and hoping for the best. It’s actually based on belief, concentration and a lot of talent.”

Owing to UEFA’s terrace ban, the Shed was forced on tour last night, convening at the St Anne’s end. And there was plenty to cheer about in an immense performance in which, true to Richardson’s pre-match promise, City showed no inclination to sit on their away goal advantage.

With Danny Murphy outstanding in the attacking full-back role, Cork were especially threatening on the left, where Liam Kearney’s mazy running drew a despairing shirt-tug from Mattias Jonson which earned him a yellow card. From the resultant free just outside the left-hand side of the area, George O’Callaghan swerved his shot to the far post, where goalkeeper Tourray was fortunate to gather as Kearney closed in.

That was one of Cork’s best efforts in a first 45 in which they thrilled the crowd with their passing game.

O’Callaghan, as usual, was at the centre of everything, while his midfield partner Greg O’Halloran wasn’t slow to answer Djurgardens’ considerable physical presence with some meaty challenges.

Upfront, John O’Flynn threatened the goal twice. First, on the half-hour mark, he managed to take Neale Fenn’s lofted pass around Tourray but the keeper recovered at the expense of a corner. Two minutes before the break, the strikers combined again.

Fenn’s long, diagonal ball put O’Flynn in behind the right-back but his left-footed drive lacked power and was saved low at his near post by the busy Djurgardens’ keeper.

For their part, the Swedes only showed brief glimpses of the threat they had to pose to rescue the tie. Their best chance before the break came as early as the 11th minute.

Goalkeeper Tourray’s Schmeichel- like throw set target man Kusi Asare off down the left, and when he pulled the ball back across the box, the inrushing Hysen fired his shot just inches wide of Michael Devine’s post.

Djurgardens’ Jonevret manager rang the changes at half-time, taking off the lone frontman Kusi Asare and going 4-4-2 in search of a goal.

By contrast, change was forced on Richardson 10 minutes after the break, when Alan Bennett limped off with an injury. Roy O’Donovan came in on the right, with O’Halloran dropping back and Joe Gamble joining O’Callaghan in the centre of midfield.

Now the game opened up, with the action swinging from one end to the other.

Neale Fenn came closest for Cork when his fizzing free kick was turned away for a corner by Tourray.

At the other end, local fans breathed a sigh of relief when Sjolund volleyed a rebound off Devine wide of the post from right in front of goal.

Trying to show attack was still the best form of defence, Cork took the game to the Swedes, with Kearney creating problems every time he got on the ball on the left.

But they still had to thank man of the match Murphy for a last-ditch clearance close to his own goal line, as Djurgardens desperately sought their own lifeline.

As the clock ran down, it was nail-biting stuff. The sight of O’Callaghan closing down Djurgardens defenders in their own box spoke volumes for Cork’s spirit but it was the quality of their football which did them most credit. Four minutes of added time stretched taut Turner’s Park nerves still further, but when Devine took one last high ball in a crowded box, Cork were safe.

The bench were on their feet, the crowd likewise - and, with entry to the main stages of the UEFA Cup, the Shed is off on tour again.

Rome? Seville? Middlesbrough? Everton? After one of Irish football’s greatest European nights, the message from the Rebel Army last night was clear - bring ’em on.

CORK CITY: Devine, Horgan, Bennett (O’Donovan 55), Murray, Murphy, Gamble, O’Halloran, O’Callaghan, Kearney, Fenn, O’Flynn.

DJURGARDENS IF: Tourray, Concha, Stenman, Kuivasto, Johanneson, Arneng, Rasck (Arnason 57), Hysen, Jonson, Kusi-Asare (Barsom 45), Sjolund (Amoah 90). Referee: Luc Wilmes (Lux).