When it was all said and done at Turners Cross, thanks to a goal from Malik Dijksteel, it was Cork City FC who ensured their name is in the draw for the FAI Cup Third Round on Tuesday following this win over Finn Harps.
Over the course of the last decade, FAI Cup final days at the Aviva Stadium seemed almost an annual occurrence for Cork City Football Club.
Winners of the Cup in 2016 and 2017, the primary objective for this current City side under Tim Clancy is returning to Premier Division football. The Leesiders, though, will be looking for a cup run also in 2024 and perhaps testing themselves against top flight opposition.
City, who hold a commanding 15 point advantage at the top of the First Division table, began on the front foot and controlled the opening stages.
Midway through the opening half, City went close when a Darragh Crowley cross into the box was fired wide by Cian Murphy.
Harps, last winners of the FAI Cup back in 1974, saw Success Edogun cause problems for the City defence with his pace and went close with a deflected shot from inside the penalty area.
City had a great chance to take the lead on 35 minutes, but Greg Bolger blasted over from a few yards out following a cross from Crowley.
Shortly before the half time break City took the lead. A Conor Drinan pass picked out Dijksteel, who found the bottom corner of the net with a lovely finish following a well-worked move from the home side.
The hosts looked to build on that advantage early into the second half, with Dijksteel blasting over from outside the box on 54 minutes.
Harps were pushing to keep their cup hopes alive and looked to catch City on the counter attack.
In what was a tight second half, Barry Coffey looked to add some magic into the Cork attack, but blasted wide on 77 minutes from long distance, with the same man shooting wide from a great position after being teed up by Harvey Skieters.
Cathal O'Sullivan has showcased his quality in abundance this season for City and he fired a low shot straight at Harps goalkeeper Tim Hiemer in the 89th minute.
Jack Doherty almost got on the scoresheet in stoppage time, as City saw out proceedings to a victorious conclusion.
Meanwhile, in an all non-league FAI cup tie, Pike Rovers booked their place in the next round of the cup courtesy of a 3-1 home victory over Cork side Midleton FC.
The goals for the Limerick side came from Dylan Murphy, Shane Clarke and Shane Walsh, with Rhys Kelly-Noonan getting the goal for the visitors.
Cork City: Brad Wade; Cian Coleman, Charlie Lyons, Greg Bolger, Malik Dijksteel (Barry Coffey, 76) Evan McLaughlin, Conor Drinan (Jack Doherty, 57 ) , Darragh Crowley, Cathal O’Sullivan, Cian Murphy(Harvey Skieters, 76) , Arran Healy (Sean Murray, 57 ) .
Finn Harps: Tim Hiemar ; Jamie Watson, Conor Tourish (Luke O’Brien, 69) , Matthew Makinson, Noe Baba, Patrick Ferry (Gavin Gilmore, HT) , Success Edogun, Ryan Rainey (Max Hutchinson, 68), Max Johnston, Tony McNamee, Gavin McAteer (Aaron McLaughlin, 63).
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