Just over two years ago was the last time Waterford FC played a game in the League Of Ireland Premier Division.
They finished that season second bottom - just three points away from safety - and ended up facing UCD in the Promotion/Relegation game at Richmond Park.
The Blues started as well as could have been hoped for, with Anthony Wordsworth sending them into the lead within five minutes. The advantage didn't last long however with two former Waterford players on target to pull back control of the game.
Dara Keane (former Blues U19) and Colm Whelan (former Blues U19 and Senior) found the net in the 26th and 34th minutes. They would prove to be the final two scores of the game with UCD taking the spoils and securing promotion to the Premier for 2022.
Twelve months down the road, Waterford had failed to take the top spot, falling four points short of the Champions Cork City.
Once again, the playoffs beckoned. Danny Searle's side had to get over a wobble against Treaty in the two-legged game having led 4-1 coming home from Markets Field, the Limerick opponents scored three first-half goals to put the frights up the Blues fans in attendance. Their second-half performance saw Wassim Aouachria and Phoenix Patterson put a more respectable look on the scoreboard to take the tie 7-4 on aggregate.
They went on to beat Galway 3-0 in Limerick to book their place in the Promotion/Relegation game where once again, UCD were lying in wait at Richmond Park.
Waterford never got to grips with that game. Tom Lonergan scored for UCD after 13 minutes forcing the Blues to chase the game, but failing to find the equaliser.
A late penalty for the Blues saw Junior Quitirna stand up to the spot but he sent it over the crossbar and out of play. As the final kick of the game, the referee blew the whistle to the joy of the UCD supporters.
This past season saw Galway streaking away into the distance from the early goings, with Keith Long's Blues unable to find inroads on the gap to the top.
They knew since very early in the year that second place was likely as good as they could hope for as the Tribesmen kept extending their lead. Chances came for Waterford who could have closed that gap on more than one occasion when Galway slipped up, but failing to beat them in any of their four meetings (1 draw from four games) John Caulfield's men marched on to the First Division title with a direct route back to the Premier for next season.
The Blues' playoff record does not make for pleasant reading ahead of Friday's game with Cork City.
In ten attempts at securing Premier Division football, the Blues (Waterford United and Waterford FC) have lost nine.
Monaghan (93), Dundalk (97), Kilkenny (2000), Dundalk (06), Finn Harps (07), Monaghan (2010), Dundalk (2012), UCD (2021) and UCD (2022).
In 1990 Waterford United beat Sligo 2-1 on aggregate to be promoted, but that was not necessarily a standard promotion/relegation game. The sides finished the First Division season level on 37 points apiece and a playoff was called for to decide the overall title winners, with the Blues gaining automatic promotion after beating Sligo.
On the other side of the coin, Cork have never even been involved in a promotion/relegation game. Any time they were promoted it was automatic, and likewise when they were relegated.
The last time the sides met, Cork took the spoils, winning 3-0 at Turners Cross in the FAI Cup.
Over the course of the last two seasons, the Blues have played Premier Division opposition five times, winning twice (St Pats & Dundalk, FAI Cup) while they were beaten by Shels (Cup), UCD (Playoff) and Cork City (Cup).
Comparing the two teams run into the end of the season, the Blues have the upper hand, albeit their results have come against First Division opposition.
In their last ten outings, Keith Long's side have won five, drawn three and lost two. While Cork have won three, drawn one and lost six. In all, Cork have only won eight games in 2023 with seven draws and 21 losses. The Blues meanwhile won 20 league games, drawing nine and losing seven.
The Blues are more threatening in front of goal with the league's top scorer Ronan Coughlan adding his 36th goal of the season to this tally last weekend, while Cork's danger man Ruarí Keating has only found the target 13 times in 2023.
Both sides have the same lead in time to prepare for kickoff, with a six-day turnaround since they were both last in action.
WLR will bring you live commentary on Friday thanks to McConnell's Toyota Waterford, with commentary underway from 7.30 pm.
