Cork City - 3 Sligo Rovers - 1: Cork City outplayed a game Sligo Rovers at Turner's Cross last night and with two second half goals advanced confidently into the FAI Cup semi-final.

Cork dominated the Division One leaders for the 90 minutes and had their position strengthened significantly when Sligo were reduced to 10 men six minutes into the second half.

Sligo's Hawaiian full-back Kupono Low gave his side cause for optimism when he put the visitors in front in the 41st minute.

Following a corner-kick the ball was quickly returned from the right touchline by Kudozovic.

Three Sligo players were left unmarked at the far post. Paul Brown's header from the cross was parried by goalkeeper Michael Devine, but he was helpless as Low drove home the rebound from 12 yards.

But Low undid his good work when, as the last defender, he earned a red card by pulling Cork winger Roy O'Donovan to the ground as he raced clear on goal after 51 minutes.

Cork's deserved equaliser had arrived just before the interval. Neale Fenn's corner from the left found Dan Murray who headed home at the near post.

Earlier Sligo goalkeeper John O'Hara helped keep Cork at bay with an outstanding save which denied George O'Callaghan's header in the 19th minute.

Sligo enjoyed a miraculous escape in the 60th minute as first Murray and then Bennett hit the woodwork during a sustained Cork attack. But Cork's pressure finally told after 78 minutes. O'Donovan eluded the Sligo defence and set up John O'Flynn who made no mistake.

O'Callaghan ended any slim hopes of a comeback by the visitors when he fired home from the penalty spot after 83 minutes after the impressive O'Donovan was fouled by full-back Cretaro.

CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, Bennett, Murray, Murphy; O'Donovan, Gamble, O'Callaghan (O'Brien 90), Kearney; Fenn, O'Flynn.

SLIGO ROVERS: O'Hara; Cretaro, Burns, McNamara, Low; Rossiter (Alvarez 81), O'Grady, Kudozovic, McCann; Brown (Feeney 59), McTiernan.

Referee: I Stokes (Dublin).