Cork City gave a wonderful performance against Lithuanian champions and runaway leaders of their league again this season FK Ekranas to secure a 2-0 away victory, which gives them an excellent chance of progressing to the next round when the tie is completed at Turners Cross in two weeks time.

City started the match in lively fashion and took the game to their opponents, reflecting the confidence within the team. Despite suffering a cruel blow on 14 minutes when goalkeeper Michael Devine was stretchered off with a suspected broken collar bone and replaced by 41 year old goalkeeping coach Phil Harrington, City maintained their composure.

Their progressive football reaped the reward it deserved in the 25th minute when Roy O’Donovan scored with a powerful shot from the right hand side of the area following some tidy build up play involving Liam Kearney and George O’Callaghan. City kept their concentration and retained possession of the ball for long periods of the game.

City controlled matters throughout the second half and Harrington was never really troubled by the Lithuanians. The merit of this performance by the Leesiders was emphasised in the final minute of the match when a delicate pass from Kearney found O’Callaghan inside the area and the influential midfielder rifled home a 15 yard shot off the underside of the crossbar.