City down but not out in Intertoto Cup

Nantes 3 Cork City 1

Cork City kept their hopes alive of progressing in the Intertoto Cup thanks to Neale Fenn’s late away goal in the 3-1 defeat in Nantes.

The French side, who finish sixth in the Ligue 1 last season, took a two-goal lead in the first half of the third round, first leg thanks to strikes from Olivier Quint and Hassan Ahamada.

Frederic da Rocha added a third after the break but City were unfortunate not to pull a goal back when Kevin Doyle’s penalty appeal was harshly waved away and he was booked for diving.

But there was better luck for the Irish outfit in the 79th minute when John O’ Flynn shook off his marker to make an individual run.

He set up Fenn who gave City hope for the second leg by slotting the ball to the right of goalkeeper Willy Grondin in the Nantes goal.

City chairman Brian Lennox was optimistic about the return match on home soil.

“We are a team on the go and won’t give up without a fight,” he said. “We’re going to get two goals. I have no doubt about it.”