Cork, who were beaten 3-1 in the first leg in France last week, had the perfect start when Republic of Ireland Under-21 star Kevin Doyle fired them into the lead after just five minutes.

Nantes, playing in an all-black strip, made three changes from the first leg as manager Loic Amisse fielded a stronger XI in a second leg which drew a sell-out crowd of over 8,000 to Turner’s Cross.

Cork, who needed to win the match by two goals, were desperately close to scoring a second when they hit a purple patch midway through the second half.

However, misses from Neale Fenn, Liam Kearney and John O’Flynn cost Cork that crucial cushion.

Nantes equalised in the 74th minute through second-half substitute Gregory Pujol when he chipped the ball past Michael Devine after Olivier Quint, who was at fault for Cork’s opening goal, played him in.

Nantes had centre-forward Hassan Ahamada red-carded by England’s Uriah Rennie three minutes after their equalising goal after he clashed with Colin O’Brien.

Nantes will play either Roda JC of Holland or Slovan Liberec of the Czech Republic in the last four with the first leg scheduled for Wednesday night.