CALM IN HEAT OF BATTLE

Playing smart and keeping possession is the key to combating temperatures in stifling AEK Larnaka Arena

STEPHEN KENNY wants Dundalk to help themselves by keeping cool in the Cyprus heat.

The Lilywhites are flying out today ahead of Thursday’s Europa League second qualifying round, second-leg with AEK Larnaca and the tie is on a knife edge at 0-0.

With Dutch giants Ajax, but more likely Sturm Graz of Austria, waiting in the next round, Dundalk won’t fear this assignment having scored in 10 of their last 11 away games in Europe under Kenny.

But their mission is complicated by the fact it will be stifling in Larnaca, with temperatures well into the 30s even by the 6.30pm (4.30pm Irish time) kick-off at the 7,400-capacity AEK Larnaca Arena.

Strength and conditioning coach Eoin Clarkin has been busy running Kenny and his players through all the various measures they can take to combat the heat before and during this finely balanced tie.

But Kenny knows his players can make life easier for themselves with a little bit of common sense on the field.

He said: “The big thing is you want to have your fair share of possession because if you keep the ball when you can, it increases your chances because you work harder when you don’t have it.

“So it’s important not to give it away cheaply because if you’re chasing it there’s an air of inevitability then. You have to have some control over the game and we must desire to have that.”

Dundalk warmed up for their Cypriot clash with a 2-0 league win over Bohemians on Sunday and it allowed the Lilywhites move one point clear of Cork City at the top of the table.

But it was still a game Kenny could have done without as they bid to get through another lucrative round in Europe. Facing into Larnaca, their only training session since the Bohs game will come tomorrow night at the match stadium.

Kenny said: “The teams are evenly matched but we had the majority of chances in the first-leg.

“They’ll be delighted with the draw and will start as favourites as they’re at home and expected to win in Cyprus.

“We have to try and score and if we do, they need two. If they score and we equalise it’s not too bad either as that will get you through as well.

“We have the capabilities of getting goals as our record suggests it in terms of this season.

“We’ve a record number of scorers in the team this year so that gives us confidence. But they’re a very good team and it’ll be a real challenge to go out there and get a result. But there’s is no reasons to believe we can’t.”

If you keep the ball when you have it, it increases your chances because you work harder without it