Cork City beat Levadia Tallinn 4-2 at Turner's Cross on Thursday night as they progressed to the second qualifying round of the Europa League 6-2 on aggregate.
Despite the comfortable scoreline at the final whistle, it was a game where Cork suffered a scare. They went into the break 2-1 down, leading just 3-2 on aggregate against a team they to whom they looked far superior in last week's first leg. A Karl Sheppard goal was Cork's only reply to two first have strikes for the Estonian side.
Nerves would be settled in the second half by a Seanie Maguire hat-trick. He grabbed an equaliser shortly after half-time. His second and third goals would come in quick succession in the final five minutes of the game.
Maguire's second of the night made him Cork's all-time leading goal scorer in Europe, a nice record to take before he heads off to Preston.
His hat-trick goal was met with jubilant scenes from the home supporters.
@Seani_Maguire_ gets his hatrick ! Baller ?@CorkCityFC @CCFCExiles #CityInEurope #RebelArmyExiles pic.twitter.com/dcuhMx3QJH
— Brian ?? (@brianrohancork) July 6, 2017
Cork will face Cypriot side AEK Larnaca, the former team of new Leeds boss Thomas Christiansen, in the next round.
Video: @brianrohancork
Photo by Doug Minihane/Sportsfile
