CORK CITY'S Steven Beattie has urged the fans to stick with the team and keep the faith ahead of a Europa League re-match with AEK Larnaca in Cyprus tomorrow night (6pm Irish time) 

The Skerries man’s message to the fans before the team’s departure for Larnaca via Stansted was to keep the support going for the Rebel Army as they bid to overturn AEK’s 1-0 advantage from the first leg at Turner’s Cross last week.

“I thought a draw would have been a fairer result," Steven Beattie said. 

"We have absolutely nothing to fear and its Seanie Maguire and Kevin O’Connor’s last game for the club so hopefully, we can send them off, and they can send us off, with a bang and we get through to the third qualifying round.

“The omens are good for Seanie with his goals – he scored in his first league game up at Finn Harps at the start of the season and he’s scored in his last up at Bray. 

"It’s great for us to have the two of them for this particular game. 

"The first goal is vital and we are going to get that opening goal and see where it takes us. 

"It could go to extra-time and we haven’t ruled out that possibility at all and we will be ready for it,” said Beattie when he spoke to reporters at Cork airport.

“They were full of gamesmanship and it was cynical at times but they used their experience of the situation as well in Cork and while they might have happily settled for a nil-all draw, they went home with one goal away advantage.

“It was annoying okay but they got over the line in the end and we have to chase them now and try to get the goal back. 

"It all makes for an interesting second leg tomorrow evening but we are ready for it,” he added.