St. Patrick's Athletic 0 - 2 Waterford United

• Eoin Manning
• Tue, Sep 15 2009


First half goals from Alan Carey and Willie John Kiely saw Waterford United deservedly progress from their FAI Ford Cup 5th round replay against St. Patrick’s Athletic tonight at Richmond Park.

Predictably, it was Pat’s who controlled possession in the early stages as they continually looked to feed wingers Darragh and Bobby Ryan at the first available opportunity and direct crosses towards the towering Glen Fitzpatrick and Ryan Guy.

Despite this, it was in fact Waterford who were presented with the first clear cut opening of the game as Jason Gavin totally misjudged a long ball out of The Blues defence and the willing Willie John Kiely latched on to the mistake. However, with time to set himself, he could only pull his shot wide when well positioned on nine minutes.

Pat’s midfielder Alan Cawley then saw his measured free-kick turned brilliantly around his post by the agility of United ‘keeper Michael Devine just seven minutes later.

The home team once again seemed to exert their apparent superiority, until Waterford right back Alan Carey moved into the Pat’s half in the 35th minute and looked to launch a long ball into the Saint’s box. His intended cross from all of 40 yards, however, was over hit and, having been totally deceived, Pat’s ‘keeper Gary Rogers could only throw a despairing arm over his head as the ball flew past him and in to his goal.

Cawley then had another excellent free kick saved by Devine as Jeff Kenna’s side began their search for an equaliser.

But that search was to become an even more complicated one after 39 minutes, as Bobby Ryan was robbed in midfield by John Kearney, who in turn fed Graham Cummins to unleash a powerful shot which squirmed under Roger's body. Despite the ball actually stopping on the goal line, Kiely was on hand to fire in to an empty net.

When the second half began Gary Dempsey picked out a completely unmarked Glen Fitzpatrick in the Waterford box and with the goal at his mercy the big striker only succeeded in dragging his shot shockingly wide.

At the other end, equally inexplicably, Gavin left a headed back pass woefully short and Cummins was poised to add a third for United only for a last minute intervention from Enda Stevens who covered expertly from left full.

From the resulting corner Kevin Murray rose highest but could only direct his glancing header wide of Roger’s goal.

Kenna’s charges were looking a shadow of the outfit that lit up the Europa League’s qualifying stages, devoid of ideas or creative spark and perhaps most importantly the cup-tied Declan O’Brien.

United soaked up anything Pat’s threw at them, though in truth that tended to be hopeful long balls, and hung on to claim a memorable win and, more importantly, their place in the semi-finals.

St. Pat's: Rogers, Lynch, Gavin, Byrne, B. Ryan, Cawley (Harris ‘46 (Maher ’64)), Dempsey, D Ryan, Stevens, Fitzpatrick (Leech ’61), Guy.
Subs not used: Clarke, Harran, Haverty, Friemanis.

Waterford United: Devine, Carey, Browne, Murray, Warren (Waters ’83), Grant, Kearney, Kiely (Mulcahy ’80), Sullivan, Cummins.
Subs not used: Fitzgerald, Dunphy, Woodgate, Carey, Burns.

extratime.ie Man of the match: Willie John Kiely.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.