Evan McLaughlin's brace fired Premier Divisions strugglers Cork City into the semi-finals of the FAI Cup after a 3-0 win against Finn Harps.
McLaughlin scored either side of a Seani Maguire strike as Cork saw off First Division Finn Harps in a Ballybofey downpour.
Cork took the lead after just 70 seconds. McLaughlin was quickest to react when Harps didn’t deal with a long ball. McLaughlin worked his way into position and slid through the legs of the advancing Lorenzo Piaia.
Cork, who hadn’t won away from Turners Cross all season, doubled the lead in the 10th minute. Again, Harps were caught napping on a long ball and Maguire seized the moment. The former Republic of Ireland international took a touch before clipping beyond Piaia.
The Donegal side, sixth in the First Division, were aiming to make it to the last four for the first time since 2014, but Kevin McHugh’s side were rocked back on their heels in the opening exchanges.
In between the early goals, Cork might well have had further goals, with McLaughlin shooting over and Brazilian keeper Piaia saving well from Maguire at the near post.
Harps were without key defensive operators Conor Tourish and Max Hutchison and their absence proved fatal.
Harps welcomed Gavin McAteer and Josh Cullen back into the starting XI after their trip to Czechia with the Republic of Ireland Under-17s.
The hosts, warming to the task, carved out a good opening on 25 minutes, but Conor Brann saved well from Gradi Lomboto.
McLaughlin warmed the palms of Piaia, who was out well to save at the feet of Alex Nolan with half-time approaching.
Harps have only ever won the Cup once and the 1,675 crowd included captain Jim Sheridan and ace goalscorer Jim Sheridan from their 1974 triumph.
Early in the second half, Brann thwarted Hans Mpongo in an edge-of-the-box tussle just when it seemed as if the in-form Dutch attacker might spark a fuse for Harps.
The home side sensed an opening but, after Kieran Cooney headed over the top, Lomboto drilled a dangerous daisycutter just wide midway through part two.
However, any notions of a Harps fightback were quashed when McLaughlin slammed home in the 74th minute after being teed up by sub Bernardo Couto.
In added time, Mpongo stung Brann into action, but by then a large portion of the crowd had made their way into the night.
Finn Harps: Lorenzo Piaia; Mikey Place (Darragh Coyle 84), Josh Cullen, Joel Bradley Walsh (Daniel Cunningham 84), Kieran Cooney; Oran Brogan; Gradi Lomboto, Gavin McAteer (Gavin Hodgins 80), Tony McNamee (Aaron McLaughlin 80), Idir Zerrouk (Shaunie Bradley 67); Hans Mpongo.
Cork City: Conor Brann; Matthew Kiernan (Charlie Hanover 80), Freddie Anderson, Rory Feely, Darragh Crowley; Sean Murray (Greg Bolger h-t), Kaedyn Kamara (Charlie Lyons 69); Alex Nolan, Evan McLaughlin (Conor Drinan 80), Kitt Nelson (Bernardo Couto 51); Seani Maguire.
Referee: Paul Norton.
