The romance of the cup. Donal O'Brien, the villain of the piece in Cork nine days ago, earned Finn Harps a famous cup win with a dramatic winner in Finn Park last night. The midfielder's diving header eight minutes from time was enough to win this replay against Dave Barry's cup holders.

It was a sweet moment for O'Brien who had squandered a gilt-edged chance in the first game in Cork.

Harps manager Charlie McGeever said the script could not have been better written for his side. "Poor Donal reckons none of the lads were talking to him last week after his miss, now they are all clapping him on the back. But it was a great display from the whole team. The goal came at a stage when Cork looked to have shut up shop in defence and were going for the win themselves."

The Harps goal came from Tom Mohan's inch-perfect cross just seconds after Cork had gone close to breaking the deadlock. Noel Hartigan's ball across the front of goal saw John Caulfield fail to connect from six yards.

Earlier Caulfield had blasted over from a good position as the visitors enjoyed the better of things in the second half. Kelvin Flanagan also went close when he headed Brian Barry-Murphy's cross just over.

Harps, roared on by a 4,000 strong crowd, dominated the early exchanges. As early as the first minute James Mulligan went down inside the area under the challenge of Cork goalkeeper Noel Mooney. However, referee Gerry Perry waved away appeals for a penalty.

Then, within a minute, Mulligan pounced on a mistake by Declan Daly only to shoot straight at Mooney. The Cork number one was certainly the busier of the two goalkeepers in that opening period, but Cork soon found their feet.

And in the second half they looked more likely to score. Even after O'Brien's strike, they had chances to equalise. Flanagan headed against a post and Brian McKenna saved from Caulfield.

Finn Harps: McKenna, R Boyle, Minnock, D Boyle, Dykes, O'Brien, Mohan, McGrenaghan, Speak, Mulligan, Harkin. Subs: McGettigan and Bradley for McGrenaghan and Mulligan (73 mins).

Cork City: Mooney, O'Halloran, Barry-Murphy, Hill, Coghlan, Freyne, Cahill, Flanagan, Hartigan, Daly, Caulfield. Subs: Herrick for Hill (62 mins), Glynn for O'Halloran (86 mins).

Referee: G Perry (Dublin).