Sam Todd ensures Derry edge out Cork on Leeside

Derry City are through to the quarter-finals of the Sports Direct FAI Cup after seeing off a brave Cork City at Turners Cross.

Courtesy of a Sam Todd goal, the Candystripes' Cup dreams remain very much alive and they now march forward into the draw for the next round on Tuesday.

Six-time FAI Cup winners Derry City arrived on Leeside following the news of the passing of club’s iconic treble-winning manager Jim McLaughlin.

The current Derry side under the management of Ruaidhri Higgins are looking to cement their own legacy and bring silverware back to Foyleside.

Currently 15 points clear at the top of the First Division, Tim Clancy’s Cork City side are set to make official their return to the top flight of Irish football in the next few weeks.

The Leesiders had their returning attacking dynamic duo of Ruairi Keating and Seani Maguire in the starting eleven.

It was the away side who had the first clear-cut chance of note in the sixth minute when from a short free-kick Paul McMullan drilled shot was saved by Brad Wade.

Cork, who have won the FAI Cup on four occasions, went close themselves shortly afterwards when Keating blasted over from inside the penalty area when the ball broke into his path from a corner.

Maguire, scorer of an iconic FAI Cup final-winning goal for City in 2016 at the Aviva Stadium against Dundalk, nearly opened his scoring account on his return to the club when he drilled with on 13 minutes after being played through by Malik Dijksteel.

The hosts were more than holding their own with their Premier Division opposition, with Evan McLaughlin going close with a strike from the edge of the box on 26 minutes. This was moments after Keating was denied by the quick reactions of Derry goalkeeper Brian Maher.

Maguire went