Waterford FC 4 Kilnamanagh 1
By Matt Keane
Waterford FC are into the last eight of the FAI Cup following a 4-1 victory over a dogged Leinster Senior League outfit on Friday night at the RSC on Friday night.
Isaac Tshipamba went close to breaking the deadlock on seven minutes when he burst through the centre before cracking a shot off the crossbar before the visitors had a chance two minutes later when Brian Connaughton was given a chance at goal, but he fired to hit the target.
Blues midfielder Cameron Evans tried his luck from distance on 21 minutes, but Kilnamanagh keeper Karl Coleman got behind the ball to make a fine save before Cian Kavanagh got on the end of a Jack Stafford cross on the half hour mark only to see his header to go just over.
After Phoenix Patterson was denied by keeper Coleman on 32 minutes, the same player was instrumental in Waterford going in front three minutes later when he fired in a shot from distance that was parried by the netminder into the path of John Martin, and he tapped from close-range.
Brian Connaughton struck the crossbar for Kilnamanagh seven minutes before the break after a Sean Byrne delivery into the penalty area, before Prince Mutswunguma dragged a shot wide of the target on the stroke of the half time whistle.
Waterford doubled their advantage on 57 minutes when Cameron Evans picked up possession of the ball 25-yards, and he beat keeper Coleman with a stunning effort that found the centre of the goal before things got better for Bircham’s men five minutes later.
Evans turned provider when he sent in a brilliant cross from the right that picked out the run of John Martin, and he scored his second of the game with a close-range finish before Phoenix Patterson completed the scoring on 82 minutes with a brilliant free kick that gave Karl Coleman no chance.
Kilnamanagh got themselves on the scoresheet three minutes later when Adam Buckley latched onto a ball through the centre before finishing past Matt Connor as they got a goal for their efforts through the tie.
Waterford FC: Connor, Power (Hutchinson ‘78), Ferguson (Forrest ’69), Nolan, Stafford (Milambo ’69), Martin (Dupree ’78), Evans, Tshipamba, Patterson, Mutswunguma, Kavanagh (Halford ’78).
Kilnamanagh FC: Coleman, Russell, Kenna (Buckley ’72), Kavanagh (Nolan ’61), McGovern, Curry (O’Brien ’72), O’Sullivan, Dowling (O’Neill ’64), Connaughton, Hanevy (Deegan ’72), Byrne.
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Clare).
