DANNY NORTH was the superhero for the Supersaints as St Pat’s reached the Ford FAI Cup semi-finals for the third time in four years with a narrow win over Cork City at Turner’s Cross.

The Saints, who last won the Cup in 1961, hit the front on 29 minutes when North scored his second goal in a week with a neat finish from Stephen Bradley’s pass after full-back Derek Pender started the move.

A minute earlier, and the home team were denied a lead goal when Ian Turner’s chip was taken off-the-line by Evan McMillan in what was a lively and highly competitive first half.

Gary Rogers made a fine diving save to keep out a Vinny Sullivan drive just before the break as the 2,337 strong crowd were kept on their toes throughout that entertaining opening 45 minutes.

Bradley and North had early chances go off target but the premier division sttus of Pete Mahon’s side told in the end.

City boss Tommy Dunne raised a few eyebrows with his team selection by leaving top strikers Graham Cummins and Davin O’Neill on the bench along with regular centre-back Kalen Spillane.

St. Pat’s were missing the cup-tied duo of Sean O’Connor and Shane Guthrie who had played for Limerick and Dundalk respectively in earlier rounds of the competition.

The biggest cheer of the night was when City made a double substitution with Cummins and O’Neill coming on for Escude-Candau and Neal Horgan after 53 minutes and that transformed the tie.

Rogers saved at point blank range from O’Neill within two minutes and then Danny Murphy’s screamer carried just wide of the far post as the home team tried to rescue this quarter-final clash as they outplayed Pat’s to the end.

CORK CITY: McCarthy; N. Horgan, Kavanagh, O’Halloran, Murphy; Turner, Duggan, Morrissey, O’Brien; Escude-Candau; Sullivan.

Subs: O’Neill & Cummins for Escude-Candau & Horgan (both 53 mins), Spillane for Sullivan (72 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender, Kenna, McMillan, Shorthall; Kavanagh, Bradley (capt), Mulcahy, Doyle; Murphy, North.

Subs: McFaul for Mulcahy (63 mins), Crowley for Bradley (80 mins), Daly for (84 mins).

Referee: D Tomney (Dublin)