Waterford FC Edges Athlone Town to Reach FAI Cup Quarter-Finals
Waterford FC are into the quarter-finals of the Club Orange FAI Men's Cup, but they were pushed right to the edge by a fearless Athlone Town side before scraping over the line 2-1 at the RSC.
Not since 1980 have the Blues lifted this trophy. Nights like this show exactly why it means so much.
Amond strikes early, Athlone hit back
Waterford, the Premier Division side and clear favourites, started on the front foot, hogging the ball but struggling to prise open a well-drilled Athlone defence.
The first crack appeared on 15 minutes from an unlikely source. Kevin Long, deep in his own half, launched a booming clearance that turned into a precision pass, sending Jorgen Voilas racing down the right. The forward burst into space and shaped to shoot, only for James Crawford to thunder back and throw himself in front of the effort with a superb last-ditch block.
Athlone survived the scare. They didn’t survive the corner.
From the right, Benny Couto – whose dead-ball delivery has become a serious weapon for Waterford in recent weeks – whipped in a vicious, teasing ball. Padraig Amond read it perfectly, ghosting into space and thumping a header past Brendan Clarke from eight yards. Sixteen minutes gone, 1-0, and the RSC finally had lift-off.
Athlone refused to wilt. Jonathan Kehir stung the palms of Arlo Doherty soon after, a warning that the First Division visitors were not just making up the numbers.
On 25 minutes, they got their reward, and Waterford were furious.
Mark Connolly’s corner from the left caused chaos in the box. As John Mahon tried to hack clear, he appeared to be impeded, arms raised in appeal, but referee Alan Patchell was unmoved. The loose ball dropped to Cillian Tollett, who reacted quickest and smashed a close-range finish into the roof of the net. Level at 1-1, and Athlone’s bench erupted.
The equaliser changed the mood. Athlone grew in belief, snapping into challenges and using the ball with more confidence. Waterford, so dominant early on, suddenly looked short of ideas. Chances dried up and, after a fiercely contested first half, the sides went in level and the tie very much in the balance.
Couto produces a moment of class
Waterford needed something special. Couto delivered it within five minutes of the restart.
A throw-in on the right was worked inside to the defender, who drove infield with intent. Spotting a sliver of space, he wrapped his left foot around the ball and sent a curling strike arcing beyond Clarke and into the far corner. A flash of quality, and Waterford’s lead was restored.
The goal steadied the Blues and they began to dictate again. Couto almost turned provider on 65 minutes, swinging in an excellent cross from the left. Amond met it with a deft glancing header at the near post, but the ball drifted just wide, Clarke scrambling.
Waterford’s bench then made its move. Tommy Lonergan and Dean McMenamy came on and immediately combined to threaten a third. Lonergan showed sharp awareness to lay the ball back to McMenamy on the edge of the box, but the midfielder’s first-time strike clipped a defender and flew inches over the bar.
Athlone still carried a punch. Aaron Connolly, increasingly influential in midfield, drove a powerful effort from distance on 71 minutes that forced Doherty into a sharp low save to his left. One mistake at either end and the tie would flip again.
Missed chances and late drama
Waterford should have killed it on 78 minutes.
Conan Noonan refused to let the ball run out near the byline, somehow keeping it alive before standing up a perfect cross for Hayden Cann. The defender met it with a towering header that looked destined for the net, only for Clarke to produce a brilliant reaction stop. McMenamy pounced on the rebound but volleyed over from close range, hands instantly to his head.
The RSC bristled again when Clarke appeared to handle outside his area as Amond threatened to burst through on goal. Patchell waved play on, and frustration rippled around the ground.
Clarke stayed busy. Noonan and Voilas both drew saves from the Athlone keeper as Waterford hunted the insurance goal that never came.
That left the door open, and Athlone almost barged through it deep into stoppage time.
Sean Brennan let fly from distance with a ferocious strike that seemed to be arrowing into the top corner. Doherty, at full stretch, managed to get the faintest of fingertips to the ball and divert it over the bar. A stunning save, and with it went Athlone’s last hope of extra time.
The final whistle followed soon after. Waterford had survived a serious scare and booked their place in the last eight, the long wait for another FAI Cup still alive – and now just three games away from ending.
