Blarney United 0-2 Sporting Fingal.
Eamon Zayed got the ball rolling at O’Shea Park with the opener on five minutes, followed with a Conan Byrne striker shortly before the break. The Munster Senior League side matched Fingal in the second half without troubling Darren Quigley.
Zayed started brightly and after bringing the best out of Blarney goalkeeper James McCarthy in the opening minutes, the striker was more clinical on five minutes by sweeping home a cross by Ross Gaynor from close range.
Fingal winger Conan Byrne was having a particularly profitable evening and was unlucky to see an effort ruled out for offside.
But Blarney’s rearguard were punctured four minutes short of the interval as Byrne rounded off a move sourced from Lorcan Fitzgerald’s teasing cross.
Mark Clifford had a shot saved by Darren Quigley soon after the restart and John Hogan smashed an attempt off the crossbar in the best openings for the home side during the second 45 minutes.
Fingal manager Liam Buckley was delighted to see his side’s safe progression into the next round.
“We knew from last year when we played Carrick United in the FAI Ford Cup how tricky away games can be against non-league sides.
“Getting the early goal was significant as it settled us and gave Blarney quite an uphill task. We always controlled the game, even when they came at us early in the second half, and I was always confident we would wrap up the tie.
“Moreover, it was terrific to have Gary O’Neill back on the pitch was the final few minutes. His groin injury after only two games of the campaign was a blow and he’s been working hard on his fitness since March to get back to this point.
“Gary is a striker with tremendous ability - a real poacher – and his return gives everyone a boost. It was therefore a good night in Cork overall.”
Blarney United: McCarthy, Jennings (Gavin 54), J Meade, Coleman, Leahy, Ahern (O'Connor 83), O'Leary, Clifford (Buckley 67), C Meade, O'Riordan, Hogan.
Sporting Fingal: Quigley; Gannon, Frost, Whelan, Fitzgerald; Kirby, Williams, McFaul (Bayly 77); C. Byrne (McArdle 85), Zayed, Gaynor (O’Neill 83).
Referee: A Buttimer.