Everton AFC 0 - 1 Waterford United

Waterford United, thirty-two years on from their last FAI Cup win, overcame their first obstacle in this season’s competition thanks to a 37^th minute David Breen penalty while sinking 10-man Munster Senior League side Everton’s hopes of extending their season beyond May yesterday afternoon.

Although Gary Dempsey had a 21^st minute spot-kick superbly saved by Shane Sherlock, Breen made no mistake when referee Jim McKell awarded the Airtricity League First Division side a second opportunity from 12 yards after Christy Byrnes tangled with Seamus Long inside the area.

Breen blasted high into the net, leaving Sherlock with no chance after Byrnes was yellow carded for the initial tackle on Long. The Munster Senior League side’s challenge became so much more difficult when the defender was then sent off for protesting the awarding of the kick immediately afterwards.

This was Everton’s 44^th game of a campaign which saw them reach the FAI Intermediate Cup semi-finals but there was no denying that Waterford were the better side, retaining the ball in a much better fashion with the vastly experienced Dempsey dictating the tempo of the game in front of the back four.

Everton were handed one magnificent chance of leveling two minutes into the second period though, David Welch racing clear and getting around United stopper Packie Holden, only for his off-balance strike to come back off the upright. But with Dempsey and Paul Phelan forcing Sherlock into two very good saves from dead ball situations, there was little doubt which team would progress into the draw for the last 16.

Everton AFC: Shane Sherlock; Paul McGrath (Aidan O’Connell 36), Christy Byrnes, Willie Byrnes, Don Horan; David Welch, Keith O’Sullivan, Trevor Daly (Gordon O’Sullivan 67), Joe Fitzpatrick, Terry White; Roy Long.

Subs not used: Kelvin Connolly, Padraig O’Flynn, Shane Long, Gary O’Brien, Laurence Fitzpatrick.

Waterford United: Packie Holden; Peter White, Craig Burns, David Breen, Seamus Long; Gary Dempsey; Paul Phelan (Gary Keane 74), Sean Maguire, Peter Higgins (Gary Dunphy 87), Ben Ryan; Peter Keegan (Daragh Walshe 60).

Subs not used: Paul Carey, Conor Coad, Robbie Hughes.

Referee: Jim McKell (Tipperary).

Attendance: 70 (estimate)

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Shane Sherlock (Everton).