Cork booked their place in the Quarter Finals of the FAI Cup as they produced a commanding performance to defeat Munster rivals Waterford 3-0 at Turners Cross.

Goals from Ruairi Keating and Joshua Honohan gave the Rebel Army a 2-0 lead early on in the first half before Cian bargary wrapped up the contest three minutes from time.

A major confidence boost for Cork returning to league action, for the Blues they fielded a much changed team for the contest, Ronan Coughlan hobbled off injured in the second half, while Roland Idowu was shown a second yellow card in the sixth minute of added time.

Worman crossed to the area, cleared away by Drew Baker, the clearance stayed in the area where Ruairi Keating was able to regain possession, with his back to goal he struck a left footed shot that went through the legs of Niall O’Keeffe and into the net past Sam Sargent to give the hosts a lead in the opening minute.

Looking for an immediate reaction to going behind early, Romeo Akachukwu fired just over Ollie Byrne's crossbar after a run down the left-wing from Parsons. The Latter would soon deliver a dangerous corner that Byrne punched clear.

Plenty of possession by both but Cork kept the pressure on their Munster adversaries and winning a corner on the right flank after Ryan Burke cleared a dangerous cross to the back post, Worman whipped into the area where Josh Honohan rose at the back post to head into the Waterford net to double the Rebel Army’s advantage 17 minutes in.

A dream start almost got better when Jaze Kabia was played through on goal but his effort cannoned off the crossbar, Keating had a second effort on goal in the 25th minute but Sargent saved, the home side dominating.

It took 26 minutes for Waterford to have their best chance at breaking their duck, Christie Pattisson cutting into the Cork box and used his footwork to get a low driven shot off at goal, it fizzed wide of Byrne’s goal, it could have been turned in by Coughlan at the back post unable to get the vital touch.

For the remainder of the half it was cagey with neither side able to create some clear cut chances in front of goal, Cork happy to be ahead by two at the interval.

A slow burner of a second stanza almost came to life when Akachukwu played in substitute Conor Cresswell, whose goal-bound effort was blocked by Cian Coleman, Cresswell replacing Ronan Coughlan who was forced off minutes prior with injury.

Chances came and went for both, Keating fired over Sargeant's crossbar from 30 yards, before Cresswell almost found himself one-on-one after Parsons got a touch to set him in, Byrne however raced out to clear the danger just in time.

66 minutes in Akachukwu had an effort blocked from inside the box, while at the other end a sweeping move saw Kabia almost get on the end of Cian Bargary's cross from the right-wing.

Waterford came close again from another substitute, Serge Atakayi having his effort go narrowly to the left and wide of Byrne's goal, meanwhile from the resumption of play Bargary raced toward Sargeants goal, his effort also dragging wide, it looked a gift of a chance to wrap the tie up but fluffed his chances.

Three minutes from time Cork would put the game beyond doubt, debutant Andrii Kravchuk played Barry Coffey down the right wing, he crossed to the area where an unmarked Bargary met the ball with a bullet header to the far post.

For Cork their cup campaign continues after a commanding performance, Waterford now turn full attention to their league campaign, but will these two meet later on this season we will have to wait and see, for now Cork take all the bragging rights.