St Patrick’s Athletic  0 - 2  Waterford United

Waterford United are through to the semi final of the FAI Ford Cup after an immense performance at Richmond Park saw them totally negate their more illustrious opponents St Patrick’s Athletic. The unfancied Blues made light of the bookies’ predictions, as they out-played, and out-worked, the home side, putting in a superb, controlled display to deservedly book their place in the last four.

A lively start to the game saw both sides go looking for an early opener. Indeed, the Blues set their stall out from before the off, with an attacking 4-3-3 line-up. Vinny Sullivan started in place of Kevin Waters, with Dave Warren getting the nod ahead of Joe Mulcahy in the midfield three. And it was Waterford who posted the first chance of note, Willie John Kiely almost capitalising on a Jason Gavin error, but firing inches wide of Gary Rogers’ left post eight minutes in. St Pat’s responded well, and when, on the quarter hour, Kenny Browne barged into Ryan Guy 25 yards out, Alan Cawley sent the resulting free kick goalwards, Michael Devine having to fling himself to his right to turn it around the post.

The opening goal came on 24 minutes. Alan Carey doesn’t score too often, but when he does they are usually worth waiting for, and this one was no exception. As the Blues attack built up down the right, the home defence backed off Carey, giving him time to spot Rogers well off his line, and fire in a superb effort over the keeper’s head and into the back of the net. The visitors kept up the pressure as the half hour mark came and went, first Graham Cummins almost getting in 1-on-1 against Rogers, and then Sullivan briefly looking to have doubled the lead only for a deflection to take his effort wide.

The home side thought they had equalised ten minutes from the break, when a harsh looking foul given against Seamus Long gave Cawley another chance from the dead ball. Again he forced a superb save from Devine, diving full left to his left to punch away, with some of the Pat’s players claiming the ball had crossed the line. It got worse for the Dubliners within moments, as the two Blues front men combined superbly to extend the lead. A fine Kiely pass found Cummins on the left side of the penalty area, and he controlled brilliantly and turned to fire in a powerful shot that Rogers could only parry. Kiely, following up, was on hand to gleefully slot home.

The Saints made a major, and surprising, change after the break, with semi-fit centre back Jamie Harris coming on for Cawley, the home side’s major goal threat of the first half. Stuart Byrne, who had had a torrid time from Cummins at the heart of the Pat’s defence, moved into midfield as the Dubliners moved to an attacking 4-5-1. It almost paid dividends early on, when a clever quick free kick from Dempsey caught the Waterford back line asleep, and Glen Fitzpatrick found himself in acres of space. Caught by surprise himself, perhaps, he somehow contrived to blaze wildly wide from point blank range.

The Blues were coping well as the home side pushed hard to get one back, and at the other end they had a chance of their own when Harris lost control and almost set up Cummins, but his shot was deflected behind to safety. Harris’ introduction had been a gamble, and moments later that gamble backfired as he succumbed to his hamstring injury and had to make way himself after only 19 minutes.

As the half wore on the Blues were looking equal to anything that the home side could throw at them, as they worked tirelessly to deny the Saints time to put together any constructive football. Kiely and Sullivan, in particular, were covering every blade of grass in United’s cause, and the Dubliners began to look more and more disjointed and frustrated, a frustration visibly shared by manager Jeff Kenna on the touchline.

A quick breakaway four minutes from time threatened to kill the game off altogether, as Stephen Grant broke clear and fed Cummins, who found John Kearney in the area, the home defence rallying enough to clear off his toe. At the other end Stuart Byrne blazed wildly over from distance, his reaction summing up the second half for the home side, a half where they threatened just once, Fitzpatrick’s chance in the opening minutes. Pats’ first corner of the second half came and went in injury time, the final act of a superb match. If not before, then certainly after this United will fancy their chances against any name that comes out of the draw drum, but is it too much to ask for another home draw?

St Patrick’s Athletic: Gary Rogers; Damien Lynch, Jason Gavin, Stuart Byrne, Enda Stevens; Darragh Ryan, Alan Cawley (Jamie Harris 45 (Stephen Maher 64)), Gary Dempsey, Bobby Ryan; Ryan Guy, Glen Fitzpatrick (Mark Leech 61) - subs not used: Brendan Clarke, Noel Haverty, Gints Freimanis, Andy Haran

Booked: Byrne, D Ryan, Stevens

Waterford United: Michael Devine; Alan Carey, Kevin Murray, Kenny Browne, Seamus Long; Dave Warren (Kevin Waters 83), Stephen Grant, John Kearney; Vinny Sullivan, Graham Cummins, Willie John Kiely (Joe Mulcahy 80) - subs not used: Kevin Burns, Declan Woodgate, Kieran Fitzgerald, Gary Dunphy, Paul Carey

Goals: Carey 24, Kiely 39

Booked: Warren

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)