- Dylan O'Connell
- Tue, Apr 24 2018
Extra time and penalties were needed to separated Munster rivals Waterford and Cork City in the RSC, as the First Division winners progressed 5-3 over the double winners.
Substitute Izzy Akinade provided the final blow to the Rebel Army following a 1-1 drawn when goals from Courtney Duffus and Josh O’Hanlon pushed the side to the edge.
In what was a tested opening, both sides battled for control of the midfield with the experience of Bastien Héry, Gavan Holohan and Dean Walsh up against Garry Buckley, Jimmy Keohane and the youthful Ronan Hurley.
Out of this battle came two excellent chances for the visitors.
The first saw A loose ball by Dean O’Halloran was picked off by Jimmy Keohane who set up Kieran Sadlier.
The winger knotted through the Waterford line, but his shot was cleared from danger by Gary Comerford.
Two minutes later, City pushed on once more with Micheal Howard swinging in an inviting cross for Sadlier to control and shoot, but the winger blasted hard and over.
Waterford grew into the game, with meek efforts from captain Bastien Hery and Dean Walsh, but nothing too penetrating for the City line.
With the half waning, City almost got what they deserved when Rory Doyle crossed in for Sadlier, who blasted well over the target.
Waterford charged forward and with the best chance of the half when Gary Comerford teed up Dean Walsh one on one with Peter Cherrie, but the experienced hands of Cherrie gobbled up the shot and kept the game scoreless.
In an energetic opening to the second half, City fell back as the home side piled the pressure.
Chances from Sander Puri were saved by Cherrie, while Puri once more fired hard but Aaron Barry intercepted keeping it at 0-0.
Seconds later, Sadlier charged forward with the winger gifting a ball across the face of goal, but the run of Jimmy Keohane was short and the ball fall out for a goal kick.
With both sides making claims for dominance, chances came in abundance as Sadlier’s free fell to Danny Kane, who shot straight into keeper Niall Corbet’s arms, while an effort from Holohan was easily palmed away by Cherri.
Freshened by the introduction of Izzy Akinade and Duffus, Waterford regrouped and produced an excellent chance as a low ball to Duffus forced a clawing save from Cherrie.
Regenerated from this chance, Akinade almost broke the deadlock when a corner ball glided from the forwards head, but hit without conviction the ball drifted wide.
Waterford continued to come forward, but Puri’s charge down the line wasn’t as powerful his shot and Cherrie once more calmly gathered.
The explosive runs burned to embers, as Waterford’s late surge was in vain and the referee signaled for extra time.
City started extra time the strongest, with a corner from Barry McNamee causing havoc in the box, while Sadlier set up O’Hanlon before Comerford cleared the danger.
Michael Howard crossed for McNamee, whose flick was finger-tipped to safety by Corbet in goal.
Waterford took the baton there and charged the City end, with Rory Feely threading a curling ball into the corner, but Cherrie pounced and put it out for a corner.
Waterford’s chances eventual paid off, when Akinade forced his way though Rowling to tee up Duffus, who smashed the ball past Cherrie to put the Blues in front.
Waterford almost doubled their lead as Akinade powered through the City midfield with little resistance, but before the striker could pull off a shot, Danny Kane cleared the ball.
City responded with a free from Sadlier meeting Kane, but the centre-back blasted it over the bar.
The resilience which saw City win the double eventually shone through as Kane’s long ball forward found O’Hanlon and his header looped over Corbet to draw the sides level.
In what was a testing penalty shoot-out, Waterford got the advantage with Duffus scoring first and Graham Cummins missing for the visitors.
Penalties from Sean McLaughlin, Jimmy Keohane, and Barry McNamee weren’t enough as Holohan, Daly, Feely and Akinade shot the Blues into the next round.
For Waterford, the prize is a testing trip to Sligo Rovers as they go in search of their first major trophy since the 1985 League of Ireland Cup.
For City, the challenge returns to Dundalk as they bid to go three points clear and secure safety on their title, at Turners Cross on Friday night.
Waterford: Niall Corbett; Dylan Barnett, Garry Comerford, Rory Feely, Sander Puri; Bastien Héry Gavan Holohan, Faysel Kashmi (John Martin 63), Derek Daly, Dean Walsh (Izzy Akinade 78); Dean O’Halloran (Courtney Duffus 78).
Subs not used: Paul Keegan, David Webster, Shane Griffin, Lawerence Vigouroux.
Booked: Dean O’Halloran (64).
Cork City: Peter Cherrie; Toby Adebayo-Rowling, Danny Kane, Aaron Barry, Ronan Hurley (Sean McLaughlin, 27); Ronan Doyle (Barry McNamee 70), Jimmy Keohane, Michael Howard (Graham Cummins 105), Gary Buckley, Kieran Sadlier; Josh O’Hanlon.
Subs not used: Mark McNulty, Conor McCormack, Cian Murphy, Alec Byrne.
Booked: Danny Kane (55), Rory Doyle (62).
Referee: Sean Grant.
Attendance: 849.
Extratime.ie Player of the Match: TBC
