New signing Charlie Lutz netted his first goal to the relief of manager Ger Nash as Cork City eventually shook off Leicester Celtic's challenge.
The Aston Villa academy recruit argued with midfielder Evan McLaughlin over who should take their 69th-minute penalty before dispatching to the bottom corner.
Kitt Nelson, who had been fouled for the spot-kick, added the clincher within two minutes to kill off the Leinster Senior League’s fourth-tier side. Standout centre-back Kevin Curry was unlucky to finish with an own goal in the dying moments.
Nash’s first win as City manager in front of 893 fans sees them advance to the FAI Cup third round ahead of a crucial relegation dog fight against Sligo Rovers on Friday.
With Seani Maguire, Greg Bolger, and new keeper David Odumosu absent, Nash made four changes for the midday kick-off.
Into the team came Conor Brann, Freddie Anderson, Josh Fitzpatrick, and Lutz.
Leicester Celtic’s long-serving captain, Alan O’Shaughnessy, missed the game due to a clash with his wedding. A few teammates attended the Friday ceremony before joining the rest of the squad in Cork.
The first-time FAI Cup participants from Rathfarnham drew a strong travelling support. They cheered every clearance, pass, and tackle, while also celebrating each of City’s missed chances and overhit crosses.
Curry and Daniel McCullagh stood up well to the waves of attack, while Owen Norton provided an extra layer of protection as a midfield shield.
Behind them, Charles Delmotte made a series of brilliant saves. City piled on the pressure for the opening 20 minutes, but began to run out of ideas thereafter.
Captain Fiacre Kelleher’s early header back across goal rolled wide. Malik Dijksteel also missed the target from Fitzpatrick’s cross.City came closer again in the 14th minute.
Darragh Crowley and Fitzpatrick carved out a chance for Lutz. He swivelled to get off a shot which cannoned back off the post.Leicester Celtic countered for their only shot of the half.
Fionnan O’Reilly cut onto his left, but Kelleher got across to block.In the 21st minute, City put the away keeper to work. Once again, Fitzpatrick fed Lutz, but Delmotte charged off his line to produce a brilliant save.
From there, City’s chances began to fade. They worked one clear-cut opening before the break from a smart Nelson free-kick. However, Kelleher’s effort was closer to a pass than a shot as it dribbled wide. Anderson came agonisingly close from a pair of corners early in the second half.
Delmotte was at full stretch to turn away his first effort, while the crossbar bailed them out from the latter chance. Curry bravely put his head in the way to stop the next shot from Cathal O’Sullivan.
Leicester Celtic were getting a foothold at times, but couldn’t capitalise on three early corners.
Benny Couto’s first involvement off the bench since April almost resulted in a goal. Nelson’s shot ricocheted off the left back, and Delmotte dived across to tip away. Dijksteel was next to test the keeper with an excellent recovery and forward run.
Delmotte came up with another save.When City’s breakthrough came, it was from a defensive error rather than any major creativity. Nelson went over the leg of McCullagh. After a tense debate, Lutz tucked it away.
With that confidence boost, Lutz’s close control teed up Nelson to blast home from the edge of the box.
Delmotte denied Lutz, but was beaten for a third time in the 88th minute when Couto’s free-kick was turned in by Curry.
Cork City: Conor Brann; Rory Feely (Harry Nevin 75), Freddie Anderson, Fiacre Kelleher, Matthew Kiernan (Benny Couto 61); Cathal O’Sullivan, Darragh Crowley (Evan McLaughlin 61), Kitt Nelson (Matthew Murray 75); Josh Fitzpatrick (Alex Nolan 69), Charlie Lutz, Malik Dijksteel.
Leicester Celtic: Charles Delmotte; Kimolo Ndee (Emmet Lawless 74), Daniel McCullagh, Kevin Curry, Christian Bagrin (David Miley 89); Fionnan O’Reilly (Cormac Clancy-Kelly 74), Eoghan Hennessy, Owen Norton, Ruairí Fortune (Thomas Norton 60), Hugh Keller; Kevin Maguire (Conor Temple 89).
Referee: Darragh White (Dublin).
Elsewhere, Salthill Devon won the battle of the non-league teams as they edged past St Michael's of Tipperary 1-0 at Drom Soccer Park in Co Galway.
Timmy Molloy's goal in the 12th minute settled it, with the Galway Premier League outfit marching into the third round.
Cobh Ramblers avoided an upset at Leinster Senior League side Bangor Celtic with a 2-0 win.
Bangor shut out the SSE Airtricity First Division's second-placed team for almost an hour, but Sam Bellis got the breakthrough in the 58th minute, and Matthew Whelan wrapped it up three minutes from the end.
John Martin helped himself to a hat-trick as Shelbourne defeated Fairview Rangers 4-0 in Limerick.
Martin was dangerous from the start, hitting the post inside a minute, but it didn't take long to get on the scoresheet as he beautifully finished to the net following James Norris’ cutback four minutes in.
The away side doubled their lead 24 minutes in as Daniel Kelly ran onto a ball over the top, side-stepped advancing goalkeeper Josh McCarthy and slotted to the empty net.
Martin grabbed his second with a simple finish in the 72nd minute and he completed his hat-trick late on as he swept home Derin Adewale’s cross from the left.
