Rathcoole Boys froze, in more ways than one, as they never performed to go out of the cup in a whimper.

Any hint of a potential shock at a bitterly cold, windswept Frank Cox Park was quickly dispelled as an utterly dominant Derry eased past the Leinster Senior League Division 1A rank outsiders.

An early blip by Derry keeper Russell Payne, when he dropped a long throw from Mark Greevey, was about the sum of Rathcoole's hopes as Derry, forcing eight corners before the break, went in at half-time full value for their 1-0 lead.

Keith Kearney had twice cleared off the line while goalkeeper Paul Finnegan had made two particularly good saves from Sean Hargan and Eamonn Doherty before Gary Beckett broke the deadlock five minutes before the break.

The Derry midfielder controlled a Shaun Gallagher throw to turn well and curl a sweet shot over the head of Finnegan from a 20 yard angle.

Doherty was the main driving force in the Derry midfield and he ended the tie as a contest with a goal completely of his own making on 64 minutes, virtually walking the ball into the Rathcoole net after a mazy run.

An inevitable third goal arrived nine minutes later. Darren McCready's fierce shot came off the crossbar and Doherty nodded the ball over the line.

Rathcoole Boys: Finnegan; Dalton, Quinn, Giblin, Beahan, Kearney (O'Grady 72 mins); Tutty (Jones 85 mins), Greevey, Kelly (Tansey 46 mins), Byrne; Reardon.

Derry City: Payne; Harkin, Hutton, Kelly; McCallion, Doherty, Hegarty, Beckett (Devlin 80 mins), Hargan; McLaughlin (McCready 25 mins), Gallagher (Quigley 74 mins).

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin)