Blues made to fight for FAI cup progression
Waterford FC head coach Keith Long will be relieved to get over tonight's FAI Cup match. Photo: Inpho.
Waterford FC came from behind to book their place in the third round of the Sports Direct FAI Men’s Cup after the Premier Division side beat non-league and FAI Junior Cup champions Cockhill Celtic in front of a 1487 crowd at the RSC.
On an evening where it was confirmed that Blues’ winger Maleace Asamoah would be leaving the club to join Wigan Athletic on a permanent deal, there was a shock opening goal that arrived for Donegal side on 13 minutes, but Keith Long’s side came back to win.
The visitors caught out the Blues defence to open the scoring when Corey O’Brien played the ball behind the defence that saw Luke Rudden beat Kacper Radkowski in the race for possession, and he held his nerve to beat keeper Matt Connor with a neat right-footed finish.
Waterford drew themselves level in the contest eight minutes later. McMenamy’s delivery from the left fell at the feet of Gbemi Arubi, and he held his nerve to drill a low right-footed shot to the back of the net with the winner arriving two minutes into the second-half.
Darragh Power did superbly well down the right to put the ball on a plate for Ryan Burke at the back post, and his diving header beat keeper Harry Doherty with Blues keeper Matt Connor producing a stunning save from a Peter Doherty header in the closest that they came to causing any shock result.
