BAH HUMBUG AS CITY ARE SENT PACKING

CORK CITY have a chequered history when it comes to European club football but last night in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg was one they’d prefer to forget. John Cotter’s young side had to overturn a twogoal deficit from the first leg at Turner’s Cross to keep the tie alive and they achieved that with goals from Garry Buckley after just three minutes and a second from Conor McCarthy in the opening minute of the second half at the Stade Municipal de Differdange. But all the good work was undone by 66th-minute substitute Issa Bah who netted the decisive goal. Cork made one change with Daire O’Connor coming into midfield for the injured Dan Casey. But they also suffered a prematch blow when Mark O’Sullivan did not travel as his wife is expecting the couple’s second child. Cork made the ideal start with a goal inside three minutes when Garry Buckley volleyed high into the roof of the net from Karl Sheppard’s knock down. Conor McCarthy’s 46thminute headed goal got the visitors back to parity as the tension mounted and Joe Coustrain (right) coming close. But in the end it was not to be and it’s the parttimers Progres who will meet Rangers in the next qualifying round. FC PROGRES: Flauss; Marques, Skenderovic, Hall, Karayer; Vogel, Silaj, De Almeida; Muratovic (Bah 66), Thrill (Ferino 90), Tekela (Florik 85). Scorer: Bah 68. CORK CITY: McNulty; Horgan, McCarthy, McLoughlin, Hurley; Morrissey, McCormack, Buckley, D. O’Connor (Griffin 82), Coustrain (Casey 88), Sheppard (capt). Scorers: Buckley 3, McCarthy 47. Referee: Matthew De Gabriele.