Shamrock Rovers 2 Cork C 0:SHAMROCK ROVERS continued the rehabilitation of their season at Tallaght last night as two second-half goals from substitute Thomas Stewart saw them defeat Cork City and progress to the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup.
An uneventful opening period saw Rovers happy to pursue the patient build-up, passing their way around a City defence that stood their ground with admirable composure.
A slip by Colin Hawkins almost provided an early opening for the visitors, but Vinny Sullivan was unable to take advantage and the home side failed to create anything, despite enjoying the bulk of possession, until the 15th minute when Ronan Finn lost patience and fired high over the Cork bar from 25 yards.
It took until the 36th minute for the first genuine moment of danger to occur, when a cross from Kerrea Gilbert was glanced narrowly wide of the City goal by Gary Twigg.
Rovers were visibly more urgent after the break and within five minutes of the restart they had created two decent chances.
Finn thrashed a low shot inches wide from Ciaran Kilduff’s lay-off, and Chris Turner forced an acrobatic tip-over from Mark McNulty with a shot from distance.
City stepped up their tempo and Daryl Horgan side-footed over the Rovers bar from close range before Davin O’Neill’s low shot from Neal Horgan’s cross was turned around the post by Oscar Jansson.
Then, just as it seemed that the flurry of intent might fade, Rovers took the lead.
In the 69th minute Gary McCabe’s free kick found substitute Billy Dennehy on the left and his ball across was touched home by Stewart.
Ten minutes later the door was slammed shut. Picking up a pass from Hawkins, Stewart turned sharply to fire a magnificent 25-yard shot in off the underside of the City crossbar.
Twigg might have added a third when his scuffed shot looped just past the post.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jannson; Gilbert, Sives, Hawkins, Powell; C Turner (Dennehy, 63 mins), Rice, Finn, McCabe (McCormack, 86 mins); Kilduff (Stewart, 68 mins), Twigg.
CORK CITY: McNulty; N Horgan (Kenny, 85 mins), G Kavanagh, K Murray, Murphy; D Horgan, G Morrissey, Duggan, O’Neill; Parker, Sullivan (I Turner, 70 mins).
Referee: P Sutton (Clare).
