Cork advance despite defeat

Intertoto Cup/ Cork City 0 Valur 1: Cork City boss Damien Richardson was in positive mood after his side progressed to the second round of the Intertoto Cup despite a disappointing home defeat by Valur on Saturday.

Cork will meet Swedish outfit Hammarby in the second round thanks to a 2-1 aggregate victory despite the setback at home.

A first-half goal by Helgi Sigurdsson gave the Icelandic side the victory on the night but Richardson refused to get downhearted.

"I give the performance 10 out of 10 because it's all about progression. Result and the performance are the same to me," he said. "It's all about winning or losing.

"Yes, it was a difficult game at times, essentially because we made it difficult for ourselves.

"We didn't get enough possession and didn't retain enough of the possession we got in their half of the field, which is pretty unusual for us.

"It's a younger team than the team we've had in the past couple of years but the introduction of Gareth Farrelly and Colin Healy will bring that much needed experience."

Ex-Irish internationals Farrelly and Healy will be available for the second round fixtures after their registration was finally cleared by FIFA.

Cork trailed on the night after going behind in the 21st minute when Sigurdsson tapped home from a volley across goal by Gufmundur Benediktsson. City's leading scorer Roy O'Donovan had a chance to equalise after 48 minutes but his angled drive was tipped on to a post by Valur goalkeeper Kjartan Sturluson.

Darren Murphy had a couple of attempts on goal in the second half as City looked to secure at least a draw and O'Donovan was denied by Sturluson's save after 83 minutes.

Valur substitute Sigurbjorn Hreidarsson was dismissed late on for a poor challenge on Liam Kearney.

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Murray, Kelly, Woods, O'Donovan, Gamble, O'Brien (Softic 90), Murphy (Cillian Lordan 83), Kearney, O'Flynn (Behan 73).

VALUR: Sturluson; Saevarsson, Thorarinsson, Smith, Carlsen (Einarsson 46), Bett, Adalsteinsson (Haflidason 85), Palmason, Vilhjalmsson, Benediktsson (Hreidarsson 85), H Sigurdsson.

Referee: A Shandor(Ukraine).