CORK CITY have clinched their place in the final of the Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup for the second year in succession, but will have to wait until Tuesday evening to find out who their opponents will be in the final at the Aviva Stadium on November 7.
The Leesiders beat St Patrick’s Athletic 3-1 at Richmond Park in their semi-final tie, but in the other semi-final Dundalk were held to a 2-2 draw by Derry City, and the sides will now replay at the Brandywell in midweek.
Sean Maguire was the Cork City hero in Inchicore, with two second half goals to clinch what was a deserved victory for his side.
City took the lead on 24 minutes when Kevin O’Connor’s corner was floated in towards the near post and Alan Bennett rose to head home from close range, but Pats hit back and levelled six minutes before the break, when Ian Bermingham’s cross was headed home by Christy Fagan.
But four minutes into the second half, a long cross into the box from Stephen Beattie found Sean Maguire in space in the penalty area, and the City striker sent a fine header past Brendan Clarke to restore his side’s lead.
Maguire, who will now join up with the Republic of Ireland under 21 squad for their game against Serbia in Waterford on Friday night, wrapped up victory with a fine solo goal 11 minutes from time.
City now have the chance to atone for their defeat at the hands of Dundalk in the final 12 months ago, but it remains to be seen whether they will have a rematch with Stephen Kenny’s men.
For Dundalk, their 2-2 draw at home to Derry City was the last result they needed given their busy schedule, and a replay on Tuesday will mean they have to play 10 games in the next 27 days.
The result, however, will be all the more frustrating for the Lilywhites who lost a two goal lead after a spirited second half comeback by Derry.
It appeared to be all going to plan for Dundalk when Dean Shiels opened the scoring against his dad Kenny’s side, although he was injured in the process and took no further part in the game, having to be replaced by Ciaran Kilduff.
The spadework for the opening goal came from Alan Keane, who skipped past a tackle from Derry’s Ryan McBride, before sending in a cross for Shiels to head home.
It was Europa League hero Kilduff who doubled Dundalk’s advantage seconds before the break, taking a good first touch from a delicately floated Patrick McEleney pass before slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
To Derry’s credit, they staged a tremendous second half performance to earn a draw, and the revival began in the 65th minute, when Rory Patterson pounced to finish from close range after Dundalk goalkeeper Gabriel Sava had pushed out a deflected shot from Aaron McEneff.
That set up an exciting last quarter of the game that saw chances at both ends, but it was Derry who sent their large travelling support home happy with an equaliser four minutes from time, Ronan Curtis beating Sava at his near post with a fierce shot from 15 yards to earn his side a replay.
The teams will now meet again at the Brandywell on Tuesday evening.
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