Blues must fight for FAI cup progression – Football

Sports Direct FAI Men’s Cup 2nd Round

Waterford FC2

Gbemi Arubi 21, Ryan Burke 47

Cockhill Celtic 1

Lucas Rudden 13

Waterford FC came from behind to secure a place in the third round of the Sports Direct FAI Men’s Cup after the Premier Division side defeated non-league and FAI Junior Cup champions Cockhill Celtic in front of a crowd of 1,487 at the RSC.

On a night when it was confirmed that Blues winger Maleace Asamoah would leave the club to join Wigan Athletic permanently, a surprise opening goal came for the Donegal side after 13 minutes, but Keith Long’s side came back to win.

The visitors surprised the Blues defence and opened the scoring when Corey O’Brien played the ball in behind the defence. Luke Rudden beat Kacper Radkowski in the race for possession. Rudden held his nerve and beat keeper Matt Connor with a fine right-footed shot.

Waterford levelled the score eight minutes later. McMenamy’s cross from the left fell to Gbemi Arubi, and he held his nerve to fire a low right-footed shot into the net, with the winning goal coming two minutes into the second half.

Darragh Power played superbly down the right and laid the ball for Ryan Burke at the far post. His diving header passed keeper Harry Doherty, while Blues keeper Matt Connor made a stunning save from Peter Doherty’s header, the closest they came to a surprise result.