CORK CITY 3 GALWAY UNITED 0
With Wednesday's first leg promotion play/off dominating the agenda, Galway United were always likely to encounter some bother down by the banks of the Lee.
So it transpired at Turners Cross as Cork City confidently claimed the spoils against the understrength visitors, who made 10 changes from the team that had beaten Bray Wanderers a week previously.
Despite the inexperienced line up United were defiant initially, but a lapse in concentration was punished in the 29th minute.
Dylan McGlade, usually effective against United, drilled an inviting free kick into a packed area with Jonas Hakkinen supplying the header.
After the restart City added a second when Alec Byrne pounced to score in the 62nd minute. Byrne reacted promptly when Cian Murphy's initial attempt was blocked.
Cork added a third on 71 as Cian Coleman supplied the finish to McGlade's precise corner.
Ultimately it means John Caulfield's charges will now face Bray on November 3 and 7 in two critical contests.
CORK CITY: Harrington; Walker, Coleman, Hakkinen (Heffernan, 74 ), Beattie; Bolger, Coffey (O'Brien-Whitmarsh, 78 ), Byrne (Morrissey, 63 ); Kennedy (Bargary, 63 ), Murphy, McGlade (Crowley, 74 ).
GALWAY UNITED: Dennison; Horgan, Nugent, Murphy, O'Shea; Place, O'Dea, Corcoran (Connolly, 70 ), Ubaezuonu; Doherty, Cunningham.
REFEREE: Rob Dowling.
