Cork City 1 Apollon Limassol 0: Cork City will travel to Cyprus next week well aware that the job is only half completed after a Billy Woods goal gave them a narrow advantage in the first round of the Champions League qualifiers.

City, denied the services of influential midfielder George O'Callaghan due to his ongoing row with manager Damien Richardson, struggled to break down the Cypriot champions and never really imposed themselves during an unimpressive first-half at Turner's Cross.

Despite Apollon offering little going forward, City were unable to impose any fluent passing and relied instead on searching long balls that rarely paid dividends.

But City were much improved after the break and Woods broke the deadlock on the hour mark, a super effort handing his side the advantage.

A late Sosin free-kick could have earned the away side a vital, if scarcely deserved, away goal but Mick Devine just about managed to touch the effort onto the upright to keep City's goal intact.

That clean sheet will prove invaluable for next Wednesday's return leg and with injured striker John O'Flynn poised to return, possibly with O'Callaghan pulling the strings in midfield, Richardson's side will be hopeful of reaching the next round.