DERRY CITY easily saw off ten men Cork City, to seal their place in the FAI Cup quarter-finals.

Midfield pair Will Patching and Sadou Diallo were the home side's goalscorers, but in truth the home side should have racked up the goals as they again missed a host of clear-cut chances.

Derry keeper Brian Maher was called into action after just four minutes, as he got down well to keep out Ruairi Keating's stinging 20 yard drive.

The Brandywell men broke the deadlock on 11 minutes from the penalty spot, as Will Patching fired home his 10th goal of the season, blasting high into the top left-hand corner, after Cork keeper James Corcoran had initially fouled Ryan Graydon inside the box, to give away the spot-kick.

With their tails up, the home side continued to push forward looking for another goal, but Patching's 25 yard strike was gathered by Corcoran. Derry went close to scoring a second on 25 minutes, but Michael Duffy's teasing strike, which had Corcoran beaten, came crashing back off the post.

The Candystripes had another good chance just after the half-hour mark, but McEleney's goalbound side-footed effort was blocked by Kevin O'Connor.

Cork's disappointing night got worse on 50 minutes as Keating was shown a straight red card by referee Gavin Colfer, following a heavy challenge on Mark Connolly on the half-way line.

Derry missed another glorious chance five minutes later as Cameron Dummigan's right wing cross found McEleney, but his close range header was straight at Corcoran.

Ruaidhri Higgins' men did score a second on 73 minutes as Sadou Diallo drilled home his first goal for the club, firing low into Corcoran's bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the box.  

In the closing stages, Derry gave the likes of Ronan Boyce, Brandon Kavanagh and Jamie McGonigle some game time, with the club's leading marksman going close in stoppage time, but his shot was blocked.

Right at the death, Diallo was inches away from scoring his second, but his pile driver from 25 yards, which had Corcoran scrambling, hit the side netting.

Derry City: Maher, Dummigan (Boyce 79), Connolly, McJannet, Coll; Diallo, McEleney (Thomson 79), Patching (Glass 60); Graydon, Akintunde, Duffy.

Cork City: Corcoran, Coleman, McGlade (Kargbo 59), Bolger, Keating, Coffey (O'Mahony 74), Bargary (Doona 59), O'Connor, Honohan, Srbely (Crowley 59), Walker (Britton 74).

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