City’s young guns ready for their toughest European test

CORK CITY’S young players have been primed to continue their European footballing education against UEFA Cup opponents Djurgardens in tomorrow night’s qualifying round first leg at the Rasunda Stadium.

The eircom League leaders flew into the Swedish capital last night for what manager Damien Richardson said was his side’s toughest test yet in European competition. Many of City’s 20-man squad were in Sweden last year to contribute to a famous victory over Malmo in the InterToto Cup during a sparkling run of form under then manager Pat Dolan, and his successor believes such experience, as well as last month’s 2-0 first-leg victory in Lithuania over FC Ekranas, is vital to a footballer’s development.

“A game in a European competition is worth 20 domestic games,” Richardson said yesterday.

“We saw that in Lithuania in the previous round and if you get a run of two or three games in Europe the experience for a young side like this is of an enormous benefit.

“I’ve no doubt that has stood us in good stead.

“The players know what the mentality, the mindset, has to be for European games and I think that’s been the biggest problem for League of Ireland football down the years.

“The game in Europe was perceived as an escape, a reward for doing well the previous year.

“You went out, you enjoyed the trip, did your best in the game and you came home and played the second leg and you were out.

“That mentality has gone now and last season proved that.

“To be playing teams on a week-in, week-out basis is of an enormous benefit, you could never dilute the importance of that. I saw the benefit of that in Lithuania and I’m hoping we’ll see the added benefit of Lithuania allied to that previous experience on Thursday night.

“It’s an ongoing process, which is exactly what a football club is, year after year after year.”

Except for the suspended George O’Callaghan, Richardson has a fully fit squad available for selection, although midfielder Greg O’Halloran took a bang on his left shin during training last night in the picturesque grounds of the Seaman’s Club, just outside of Stockholm.

O’Halloran sat out the rest of the session, nursing the knock with ice, but walked freely back to the team bus for the return to their hotel.

First-choice goalkeeper Michael Devine did take a full part in the run out, having convinced Richardson of his match readiness in a reserve team game against Midleton on Monday night.

That provides the manager with a reputation versus form dilemma with the latter quality being advertised by Devine’s stand-in Mark McNulty during the regular number one’s absence with a dislocated shoulder. Given the stock Richardson clearly gives to experience in this sort of situation, Devine should get the nod.

“The test I’ve got there is Michael’s experience against the good form and loyalty that McNulty has shown. Djurgardens are very big and strong and set-pieces are important to them, so that brings experience into vogue. But McNulty’s played very well, he’s dominated his box and really given me a problem. I’m glad to have it, especially as I didn’t expect to have it so soon and in a game of this nature.”