Cork's victory ensures Irish seeding

Not only does the victory over Apollon Limassoll put Cork City on the front foot ahead of next week's away leg but it now ensures automatic seeding for Irish clubs competing in the Champions League for the foreseeable future.

Shelbourne were the only Irish team with recent seeding in Europe's premier competition but following Billy Woods' stunning goal at Turners Cross on Wednesday, all league winners will now be afforded that honour as the national coefficient has risen sufficiently.

Cork were unseeded this year and, in theory, should struggle against so-called stronger opposition, thus reducing the likelihood of improving the coefficient ranking.

As it happens, Damien Richardson's men are in an excellent position to progress past their seeded Cypriot opponents and bolster that figure.

The Republic of Ireland is provisionally ranked 38th of the 52 countries with clubs competing in Uefa competition.

That position is just about enough to secure seeding at present — Iceland and Belarus are also vying — but to relinquish any doubt and surge further up the table it is imperative Irish clubs continue winning on the continent.

The league, meanwhile, has postponed Cork's home game with Bray Wanderers on Saturday to facilitate the club ahead of their Monday morning departure to Cyprus.

Richardson had expressed both frustration and disappointment at having to fulfil the fixture ahead of such a significant European game.

Cork's initial request was rejected but yesterday the league about-turned and, with full co-operation from Bray, agreed to reschedule to an as yet unknown date.

Richardson stresses his side still have work to do as they attempt to protect their slender 1-0 advantage.

"Wednesday was a great experience for us. It was worth a season of domestic games for me . . . but a one goal lead going away can be tenuous, it can be arduous," he says.

"The hot conditions are going to be much more difficult over there. I think we'll have to be a little more patient, we'll have to be a little bit more conservative in the way we utilise our energy."