Uefa Conference League: HNK Rijeka tie ‘a great opportunity’ for Derry City – Tiernan Lynch

Lynch’s side entered the second round of Conference League qualifiers after losing 5-3 on aggregate to CSKA Sofia in the Europa League first qualifying round.

The second leg of the Europa League qualifier at the Brandywell was marred by trouble between rival supporters in the stands with the match temporarily stopped and police deployed.

Despite the defeat and the disturbances, Lynch added that his side can look back and use the match to build ahead of their opening Conference League qualifying game.

“The atmosphere last week was utterly electric. It’s the best night I’ve had in the Brandywell. We lost the game, but I thought the fans were phenomenal,” the 50-year-old continued.

“They were squeezed in there, they were loud, they kept going. They stayed with us, they pulled us over the line at times.

“I think if we can get back in the same place, ideally you would even take a draw off to be told and get yourself back on a level playing field to go into the second tie. That would be ideal for us.”

As a result of the crowd trouble, Derry have been given a suspended partial stadium closure for a probationary period of two years.

They have also been fined 20,000 euro (£17,000) with CSKA Sofia handed a ban on bringing away fans to their next European fixture and a further one-game sanction suspended for two years.

“I think it’s a game that probably should be remembered for football reasons,” added Lynch, who was speaking before the punishment confirmed on Tuesday.

“Unfortunately, it will probably be remembered for the crowd trouble and the disturbances and the CSKA, Sofia supporters and ultras or whatever they’re called.

“That’s unfortunate. It wasn’t nice to see as everybody has now seen the families. How intimidating it was, it was scary. My own family were in the crowd so I know how people felt.”