Two Danny Lafferty goals ensured Shamrock Rovers will continue their bid to retain the Extra.ie FAI Cup for the first time since 1987.
Cork City looked like an improved side from the form that has them stuck to the bottom of the SSE Airtricity League, but a strike from Gearoid Morrisey was not enough to spur victory against an adept Rovers side.
The Hoops made four changes from the team that produced heroics in a penalty shootout against Finnish side Ilves Tampere in the Europa League last Thursday.
Aaron McEneff, Aaron Greene and Ronan Finn dropped to the bench while Liam Scales linked up with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s for a training camp in Northern Ireland.
As they often do in Tallaght Stadium, Rovers had the majority of possession from kick-off.
The home side's first chance came after just three minutes when Graham Burke, with his back to goal, flicked the ball onto Lafferty in the left of the box.
The striker's shot, however, flew wide of Liam Bossin’s near post.
While City may sit bottom of the league, the average punter (if they were allowed in) would have been forgiven for thinking otherwise.
Neale Fenn’s side looked well drilled with a fluid front three of Dylan McGlade, Deshane Dalling and Connor Simpson showing pace and the willingness to swap positions in the hope of dragging the Rovers defence awry.
Crucially, McGlade and Dalling were also quick to slot into a midfield bank of five when needed, enabling City to go from a 4-3-3 to a 4-5-1 when out of possession.
Unfortunately for their attacking ambitions though, that was more often than not.
Holders @ShamrockRovers are through to the next round of the #FAICup Danny Lafferty opened the scoring v Cork City #RTESoccer #RTESport #WatchLOI pic.twitter.com/bhQOmmappE
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) August 31, 2020
The hosts held the majority of the ball but struggled for chances until their goal in the 38th minute.
Burke struck a stinging shot from 25 yards out which was parried left by Bossin into the path of Lafferty, who took the opportunity to score his first goal for the club.
Burke could have had a chance to score two minutes later when Jack Byrne found him in between two defenders.
The Preston North End loanee, however, was let down by his first touch as the ball rolled beyond his path.
City changed their goalkeeper at half-time with Mark McNulty coming in for Bossin and McNulty was in the firing line almost immediately as Dean Williams forced him into a strong save on 46 minutes.
Cork then got things level with their first attack of the restart in the 50th minute.
Gearoid Morrissey equalised for Cork #RTESoccer #RTESport #WatchLOI pic.twitter.com/T4FCKLCiWY
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) August 31, 2020
Dylan McGlade was the creator as he charged into the box from the right wing before cleverly pulling it back to his captain Morrisey just outside the six-yard box.
His strike flew past an outstretched Alan Mannus in the Rovers goal.
On 67 minutes, Williams found Byrne in the perfect shooting position on the edge of the box.
While every natural instinct would have been to rifle a shot towards goal, Byrne showed characteristic composure to shuffle the ball left to Lafferty who slotted it past McNulty for his second of the game.
But Lafferty had the final say in the 68th minute #RTESoccer #RTESport #WatchLOI pic.twitter.com/5dgCLLYaAf
— Soccer Republic (@SoccRepublic) August 31, 2020
It could have been grogginess after no game in their past 10 days, but the visitors looked the more tired of the two sides after Rovers went ahead again.
Rather than pushing for another equaliser they were often pinned back as Stephen Bradley’s side looked like adding to their lead.
Burke smashed a free-kick goal-ward only for McNulty to tip it away with 15 minutes to go.
Greene came on for the hosts and linked up with Lafferty in the game’s final minutes but Rovers couldn’t find the extra goal they seemed so eager to get.
For Fenn and Cork City, the focus now turns to the struggle of lifting themselves from bottom of the Premier Division.
Rovers, meanwhile, have more glamorous battles ahead, they will be striving for silverware on all fronts with a Europa League qualifier against AC Milan to come next month.
Shamrock Rovers: Alan Mannus; Joey O'Brien (Ronan Finn, 74), Rhys Marshall, Roberto Lopes, Lee Grace, Danny Lafferty; Gary O’Neill (Aaron McEneff, 74), Dean Williams (Aaron Greene, 74); Dylan Watts; Jack Byrne; Graham Burke (Brandon Kavanagh, 89).
Cork City: Liam Bossin (Mark McNulty, 46); Rob Slevin, Jake O’Brien, Kevin O'Connor, Charlie Fleming (Dale Holland, 46); Gearoid Morrissey, Henry Ochieng, Cian Coleman; Dylan McGlade (Ricardo Dinanga, 88), Deshane Dalling (Daire O’Connor, 87); Connor Simpson (Scott Fenwick, 75).
Referee: Neil Doyle
