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Cork stay on course for double

FAI Cup Third round (replay): Cork City kept on course for a possible domestic league and cup double as they advanced to the…

Mon Sept 05 2005 - 01:00

FAI Cup Third round (replay): Cork City kept on course for a possible domestic league and cup double as they advanced to the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup by defeating relegation-threatened Finn Harps at Finn Park on Saturday night.

But the Donegal club was desperately unlucky not to cause the surprise of the round. Harps came from behind to lead 2-1 and were eight minutes away from a home tie against Sligo Rovers when Cork drew level and the Leesiders then pounced again in extra time to advance.

"We're absolutely devastated," Harps player-manager Anthony Gorman commented. "Cork were by far the better team in the first half, but when we were leading 2-1 it looked good. Again we gave away soft goals and it cost us."

City boss Damien Richardson was hugely relieved afterwards: "In the first half we played some sublime football and we were totally in control, but in the second half Finn Harps really put it up to us," he said.

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City took the lead after 13 minutes when John O'Flynn crossed for Liam Kearney to connect at the far post. However, Eloka Asokuh headed in an Anthony Gorman corner to level the scores a minute after the break.

Harps took the lead in the 72nd minute after City goalkeeper Michael Devine failed to clear and Chris Breen took advantage to slot the ball into the empty net.

City looked to be in trouble, but in the 84th minute Harps goalkeeper Gavin Cullen failed to collect a cross and O'Flynn seized his chance. Harps' Jonathan Minnock hit the crossbar from a free but with the prospect of a penalty shoot-out only two minutes away City substitute Roy O'Donovan popped up in the penalty box to grab a winner despite pleas from the home side that he was off-side.

FINN HARPS: Cullen, Asokuh, Minnock, Boyle, Bradley, Funston, Capper, McGrenaghan, Laughlin, McHugh, Gorman. Subs: Scoltalk for Boyle (41 mins), McGowan for Funston (78 mins).

CORK CITY: Devine, Murphy, O'Halloran, Coughlan, Murphy, Fenn, O'Flynn, O'Callaghan, Gamble, Horgan, Kearney. Subs: O'Donovan for O'Halloran (70 mins), Behan for Fenn (84 mins).

Referee: Pat Whelan (Dublin).