Cobh Ramblers looked to centre-forward Donal Golden to illustrate the gap in class with their junior rivals from St Michael's, Tipperary, at St Colman's Park.
Golden, an anonymous figure for most of the game, suddenly bestirred himself to score two headline goals and give Cobh a winning margin that flattered them.
A headed goal from Paul Coughlan following Willie Bruton's corner kick in the 38th minute gave Cobh a half-time lead that contradicted the flow of the game.
Bruton danced through the defence to fire an inspiring second for Cobh after just 48 minutes and, as Cobh prospered, Golden hammered the message home with well-struck goals in the 69th and 87th minutes.
Cobh Ramblers: Slattery; McDonagh, Wolfe, Murphy, Byrne; Sweeney (McGregor 65 mins), Clifford, Coughlan (White 89 mins), Cregoe; Golden, Coughlan.
St Michael's; O'Sullivan; Cremins, Flynn (Cummins 67 mins), Bresnan, Tobin; Cosgrave (O'Dwyer 60 mins), Ryan, James Walsh, John Walsh (Maguire 82 mins); O'Halloran, Lynch.
Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).
