Team News – Home vs Cork City
Tickets for this FAI Cup tie remain on sale. Kick-off is at the slightly earlier time of 7.45pm
It was another special European night on Tuesday as we beat Floriana 5-1 on the night, 5-3 on aggregate in our first qualifying round in the Champions League. It was a very impressive performance from everyone.
“Yes, it was. We knew that we needed to perform a lot better than in the first leg in Malta, that was quite obvious. We knew we needed a near perfect performance in terms of going through in the tie. To be fair to the players, they deserve all the credit. To a man they showed up, they were brilliant.”
Did the amount of other chances we made only to be denied several times by their keeper also please you in terms of our focus and aggression on the ball?
“We were really aggressive in everything we did. Their keeper made three or four brilliant saves and the fact he had to make them probably summed up where the players were on Tuesday, in terms of that mentality and aggression.”
While everyone stepped up against Floriana, Graham Burke becoming the top LOI goalscorer in Europe with 15 goals, with a typically brilliant goal, overtaking David McMillan, deserves a special mention.
“It does, it’s incredible. I know I’ve said it a number of times where I think Graham ranks and what I think he is, but it really is special when you put it all into context. The type of player he is and what he does for the team as a whole, he’s a special person and talent. We’re very lucky, as a football club, to have him here and to watch him here every day, every week. There’s still so much more left in Graham and I think he will extend that record in the coming years.”
So we move on quickly as always even after an emotional and critical win as we defend our FAI Cup against Cork City. It’s a trophy we’d like to retain.
“Definitely. We enjoyed Tuesday night and that’s important but it’s equally important we move on quickly. This group has always been good at that, regardless of the result, getting ready for the next game. So it’s important we do that for Cork City on Friday night as we know they have some very good players and are on the verge of returning to the Premier Division, so we need to be ready.”
Cork have a very big lead at the top of Division 1. What do you see as the main dangers of Barry Robson’s team?
“Both of their wingers are very good, in Ruairí Keating and Seán Maguire up front, they’re as good as you’ll get anywhere in the country. When you combine those four, they’re really good and this Cork team belongs in the Premier Division and they will be soon. So we’ll respect Cork and be ready for them.”
How did the players emerge from Tuesday and are any injured players able to return for the Cork game?
“No issues from Tuesday. Everyone else is doing ok. Dan Cleary, Danny Grant and Victor Ozhianvuna remain out. We’re hoping Danny Mandroiu can get some minutes this weekend for the under 20s, which would be great. That should clear Danny to be back in with us. Other than that, everyone is ok.”