Blues reach last four following a five goal thriller

Whelan gave his side the lead that their early dominance deserved with his 20^th goal in all competitions four minutes later when he left Greg Halford in his wake with a superb turn on the right-side of the area, and he gave Brian Murphy little chance drilling a right-footed shot to the far corner from 16 yards.

Prince Mutswunguma had cause of concern whether he gave away a penalty or not on 16 minutes, but referee Rob Hennessy judged that he fouled Liam Kerrigan just outside the area, before the same player had Waterford’s first chance five minutes later.

After switching with Cameron Evans, he started a move that saw the former Cambridge player linked up with Junior Quitirna, who in turn fed Isaac Tshipamba before he returned the ball to Mutswunguma, but his right-footed effort was wide of the left-hand post.

As the Blues came into the game somewhat, referee Hennessy was busy with his yellow card as he showed it in the direction of UCD trio Dara Keane, Paul Doyle, and Sam Todd, with Greg Halford also entering the book of the official for a tackle on Liam Kerrigan.

It was key positional changes that saw the Blues take control and they were deservedly level on 36 minutes when Junior Quitirna took advantage of some sloppy UCD defending to bring the ball onto his left-foot, and he beat keeper Lorcan Healy with a strike that found the bottom corner.

The second half was less than two minutes old when Quitirna slipped the perfect pass into the feet of Phoenix Patterson on the top of the penalty area, but his powerful left-footed strike just cleared the crossbar of UCD keeper Lorcan Healy.

UCD were back in front at the other end on 49 minutes when Colm Whelan dispossessed Niall O’Keeffe on the left-side of the area after an initial slip from Kyle Ferguson as he went into an aerial challenge, and after Whelan released Liam Kerrigan out on the right, he drilled a low shot to the far corner past Brian Murphy.

A cracking cup tie had another twist on 66 minutes when the Blues levelled from the penalty spot when O’Keeffe’s long ball down the left saw Prince Mutswunguma fouled in the area by full back Evan Osam, and Phoenix Patterson sent Healy the wrong way from 12 yards.

Brian Murphy denied the hosts a certain lead goal again with a tremendous save five minutes later when Paul Doyle sent in a ball from the left that picked out Colm Whelan, who looked certain to score with a tap-in, but the netminder somehow kept it out.

UCD were awarded a penalty of their own to regain the lead on 72 minutes when Jeremie Milambo upended Liam Kerrigan on the right-side of the area that left referee Rob Hennessy with no option only to point to the spot, and Colm Whelan saw his effort superbly tipped around the posts by the fingertips of Brian Murphy.

Whelan had another chance three minutes later when he ghosted in along the endline, and after Murphy saved his first effort, the striker couldn’t direct the rebound on target, before UCD keeper Lorcan Healy made a stunning save to deny the Blues ten minutes from time.

Junior Quitirna got the better of Sam Todd out on the right-hand side before charging forward before spotting the run of Prince Mutswunguma, who looked certain to score, but the home netminder made an unbelievable save to keep the ball out.

With a replay looking certain at the RSC on Tuesday, there was one final twist in second half injury time when referee Hennessy waved play on at one end when Colm Whelan hit the deck that saw Greg Halford’s clearance pick out the run of Patterson on the left, and his cross was steered home by Prince Mutswuunguma.