Defensive frailties come to the fore as Blues crash out of FAI Cup
Sports Direct FAI Cup Third Round, Turner's Cross, Cork 15/8/2025
It was a Friday night under the lights in the Sports Direct FAI Senior Cup 3rd round to forget for Waterford FC as their woeful defensive frailties came to the fore in their Munster derby exit to Cork City, at Turners Cross, with substitute Kaedyn Kamara popping up with the winner ten minutes from time.
With manager John Coleman missing both centre-backs, Andy Boyle and Darragh Leahy, through injury, the home side capitalised on a poor defensive performance once again to book their spot in the last eight of the cup as Waterford’s wait for the FAI Cup goes on.
It was an absolutely shocking start for the Blues as they fell behind within two minutes when Evan McLaughlin took a pass from Josh Fitzpatrick before sending in a ball from the left that fell for Matthew Murray, who got free of Kyle White, to beat Stephen McMullan with a neat right-footed finish.
The Blues had a chance to level a minute later in an explosive start to the derby when Conan Noonan sent in a right-wing free-kick that was knocked down by Ryan Burke into the path of Ronan Mansfield, but he flashed a left-footed strike from 12 yards wide of Conor Brann’s far post.
A well-worked Waterford corner resulted in a brilliant save from Cork keeper Conor Brann with 20 minutes on the clock. James Olayinka and Conan Noonan combined that saw the latter turn provider for Ryan Burke on the top of the penalty area, but his super volley was tipped over the crossbar.
John Coleman’s side were level two minutes later when Kyle White whipped over a left-wing cross after James Olayinka’s shot was blocked, and when Padraig Amond saw his header saved, the rebound fell to Tommy Lonergan, who was on hand to hammer home from close-range.
Lonergan could have put the Blues in front on 24 minutes when Amond dispossessed Harry Nevin in the right-back position before setting up the striker 14 yards from goal, but his right-footed strike was high over Brann’s crossbar.
When goalkeeper Matthew Murray caught Grant Horton in possession down the left a minute later, he pulled the ball back for Evan McLaughlin, but his left-footed strike was straight down the throat of keeper McMullan.
McLaughlin brought the best out of Stephen McMullan again on 36 minutes when he cracked in a shot from distance before Kitt Kelson linked up with Josh Fitzpatrick two minutes later, only for the Blues keeper to make another top save to claw the ball over the crossbar.
Following their lightning-quick start to the first-half, the hosts started on the same front foot when the second-half got underway. They won a left-wing corner on 47 minutes that saw Evan McLaughlin put the ball on the head of Darragh Crowley, but McMullan got down low to his right to save.
MATCH WINNER Waterford had a magnificent chance to strike the front three minutes later. Conan Noonan sent Kyle White behind the City defence with an incredible ball, but Freddie Anderson got back to block the ball on the line in a big moment in the cup tie.
The Blues had another big opportunity to get their noses in front for the first time in the tie just shy of the hour mark when Lonergan got to the right endline before setting up Conan Noonan, but keeper Conor Brann saved well at his near post.
Ronan Mansfield and Rory Feely produced two last-ditch tackles at either end to deny both Murray and Amond as the game flowed from end to end before Kitt Nelson picked the ball on the edge of the penalty area on 65 minutes, but his shot was well held by McMullan.
Tommy Lonergan thought that he had scored for the Blues on 76 minutes when he stepped over a free-kick just outside the penalty area after James Olayinka was fouled by Kaedyn Kamara, who received a yellow card for the challenge, but his curling effort flashed inches wide of Brann’s left-hand upright.
The Blues were made to pay for their indiscipline four minutes later as Kyle White was guilty of a mistimed challenge out on the right that saw the impressive Evan McLaughlin put the ball into the danger zone, where the unmarked substitute Kaedyn Kamara couldn’t believe his luck when heading home.
CORK CITY: Brann; Nevin (Kamara 59), Anderson, Feely, Kiernan; McLaughlin (Murray 82), Crowley, Nelson; Murray (Lutz 79), Maguire, Fitzpatrick.
WATERFORD FC: McMullan; Horton (Miles 73), McDonald, Mansfield (Faal 82), Burke; White, Rossiter, Olayinka; Lonergan, Amond, Noonan (Coyle 73).
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Limerick).
Attendance: 2112
