Scintillating City score three to progress to the Semis

📷 KBD Photos

It was a wet and windy encounter in Ballybofey as City ran out 3-0 winners in their cup quarter final against Finn Harps. They join Kerry FC, Shamrock and the winner of St Pats vs Galway in the semi final draw, which takes place on Sunday evening.

Ger Nash made two changes from the side that grabbed a 2-0 win over Waterford last time out, with Josh Fitzpatrick and Matthew Murray both dropping out of the squad, being replaced by Sean Murray and Alex Nolan.

Kevin McHugh also made two changes to his team that were held in Longford. Max Hutchinson and Ibrahima-Pokou Bangoura came out of the side, with Gavin McAteer and Josh Cullen coming in.

City made a lightning-fast start to the match and took the lead inside the first two minutes. A long goal kick from Conor Brann was flicked in behind by the head of Seani Maguire. Evan McLaughlin latched onto it and skipped past a defender in the box before smashing the ball into the bottom right corner to give the visitors the lead.

Things got even better for the Leesiders eight minutes later. Conor Brann sent a long free kick bouncing over the Finn Harps defence. It fell kindly in front of Seani Maguire, who was able to lift the ball past the Harps keeper and into the back of the net to deliver more delight to the travelling City fans.

The second goal kicked the home side into gear, as they started to grow into the game, and almost cut their deficit in half in the twenty fifth minute. A hooked ball forward was won by Mpongo as Harps broke forward. The striker slid the ball through to Gradi Lomboto, who tried to slide the ball past Conor Brann but the City shot stopper was able to get a leg to it and keep it out.

The hosts were almost made to rue that missed chance as City came close to a third in the thirty ninth minute. A long ball was knocked down to Kitt Nelson, who managed to slide a pass through to Alex Nolan. The former St Pats winger got there before the keeper, but his effort was smothered by Harps goalie Piaia Barbosa.

That was the end to a fairly hectic first half that saw City go into the break with a comfortable two goal lead.

It started bucketing rain in the second half which made the game far more scrappy. This was perhaps helpful to the hosts, as they started decently in the second half and almost got a goal back four minutes in. Conor Brann came out to boot away a long ball, but his clearance came off Mpongo and the striker went after the loose ball, but couldn't quite angle his shot goalward in time and it was smothered by Brann.

Harps had the better of the chances to start the half, and went close again in the sixty third minute. After a cleared corner, the hosts recycled the ball and Michael Place was able to hook a ball into the box. Kieran Cooney rose highest and nodded the ball towards goal, but his effort landed on the roof of the net.

Despite Harps looking good, the last big chance went the way of the visitors with sixteen minutes to play. Seani Maguire did brilliant work to get into the box before laying it off for Evan McLaughlin. Evan's shot was saved, and the rebound was collected by Benny Couto. He gave it back to McLaughlin, who made no mistake the second time around and bagged his second of the game.

That was the last act of the game, as Cork City comfortably ran out winners over Finn Harps. After the international break, it’s important to get back to winning ways as soon as possible, and City were able to do so in style. They never looked particularly susceptible to a comeback and were well in control for the vast majority of the game. As for the competition itself, the result in Mounthawk Park makes a possible route to the Aviva very feasible. I also wouldn't completely rule us out beating Galway if they were to make it past Pats on Sunday. That being said, we'll get Shamrock away anyway so it's all just hypotheticals.

My man of the match goes to Evan McLaughlin. A sentence I've said a few times this season already, but McLaughlin was definitely the standout player on the pitch all game long. Despite the sub-optimal conditions of the pitch, the Derryman was able to keep control of the midfield consistently throughout the match and pulled the strings for Ger Nash’s side.

City will look forward to the draw on Sunday evening, and after that they'll look ahead to a bout with Shamrock at the Cross on Friday night. As for Finn Harps, they'll look to bounce back as they’ll travel to the Carlisle Grounds to face Bray.