Derry City FC are through to the quarter-finals of the Sports Direct FAI Cup after seeing off Cork City with a 1-0 win at Turners Cross on Friday night.
Courtesy of a Sam Todd goal, the Candystripes’ Cup dreams remain very much alive and they now march forward into the draw for the next round on Tuesday.
Six-time FAI Cup winners Derry City arrived on Leeside following the news of the passing of club’s iconic treble-winning manager Jim McLaughlin.
The current Derry side under the management of Ruaidhri Higgins are looking to cement their own legacy and bring silverware back to Foyleside.
Currently 15 points clear at the top of the First Division, Tim Clancy’s Cork City side are set to make official their return to the top flight of Irish football in the next few weeks.
The Leesiders had their returning attacking dynamic duo of Ruairi Keating and Seani Maguire in the starting eleven.
It was the away side who had the first clear-cut chance of note in the sixth minute when from a short free-kick Paul McMullan drilled shot was saved by Brad Wade.
Cork, who have won the FAI Cup on four occasions, went close themselves shortly afterwards when Keating blasted over from inside the penalty area when the ball broke into his path from a corner.
Maguire nearly opened his scoring account on his return to the club when he drilled with on 13 minutes after being played through by Malik Dijksteel.
The hosts were more than holding their own with their Premier Division opposition, with Evan McLaughlin going close with a strike from the edge of the box on 26 minutes.
This was moments after Keating was denied by the quick reactions of Derry goalkeeper Brian Maher.
Maguire went close again for Cork, as his side-footed effort trickled just wide from a Dijksteel cross.
City almost went ahead on the stroke of half-time, with a Keating effort being cleared impressively off the line by Derry defender Ciaran Coll.It was the Leesiders who went in the more content after a fine first-half showing.
The home side picked up where they left off in the second half, which was just seconds old when Sean Murray fired just over from long range.
Derry looked to muster a second-half response and went close through a Sam Todd header on 55 minutes from a corner, with Patrick Hoban threatening from another corner midway through what was turning into a tightly contested second half.
A Derry set-piece threat was utilised to full effect on 72 minutes as the away side took the lead. From a Ben Doherty corner, on hand to head to the back of the net was Sam Todd.
The visitors almost extended their advantage from another corner when Todd again went close, with Shane McEleney also heading just wide.
Derry appeared to be managing the game well, but Cork City were not intent to give up without a fight, with Keating forcing a good save out of Maher on 81 minutes.
With the game into the last minute of normal time Greg Bolger headed wide for the hosts, who were looking set to rue the missed chances in particular from the opening half.
Ultimately Derry sealed the deal and edge one step closer to Cup glory.
Cork City: Brad Wade; Cian Coleman, Charlie Lyons, Greg Bolger, Malik Dijksteel (Cian Murphy, 76) , Evan McLaughlin, Ruairí Keating, Sean Murray, Darragh Crowley, Cathal O’Sullivan, Seani Maguire.
Derry City: Brian Maher; Ciaran Coll, Michael Duffy, William Patching, Patrick Hoban, Paul McMullan (Daniel Kelly, 87 ) , Ben Doherty, Shane McEleney, Danny Mullen (Sadou Diallo, 71) , Cameron Dummigan, Adam O’Reilly (Sam Todd, 53) .
Referee: Marc Lynch.
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