Matt Keane reports
We now know the four Waterford League clubs who will move on to the national (open) stage of the FAI Centenary Cup following the games which were played over the weekend. Three Premier League teams, namely Hibernians, Villa and Ferrybank and Division 1A outfit Portlaw United will carry the hopes of Waterford as the road to the Aviva Stadium reaches the crucial period.
Portlaw hit ten past the Saints
Portlaw United 10 St Saviour's 0
Portlaw United went goal crazy at the Paddock on Sunday morning as they took no mercy on St Saviour's. Two players scored hat-tricks in this one-sided affair. Luke Woods and Jordan Myler bagged trebles. Declan Cheasty scored a brace and Mark Morahan and Eoghan O'Brien were also players who got their names on the scoresheet.
Villa crush Seaview Celtic in Connors Park
Villa 7 Seaview Celtic 0
The unbeaten Premier League leaders Villa are being tipped by many to make it all the way to the Aviva Stadium and they took another giant step on their journey in Connors Park on Saturday night. Just like Portlaw United, they also had two players who chalked up hat-tricks, namely Mark Walsh and Dean Walsh. Dylan Butler also got in on the scoring.
Hibs win the battle of the former champions
Hibernians 2 Waterford Crystal 0
Both Hibernians and Waterford Crystal are former winners of the famous FAI Junior Cup but Waterford Crystal will have to wait for at least another year for a shot at glory because they lost a tight game to Hibernians in Mitchell Kennedy Park on Sunday. Conor Whittle put the hosts in front after 11 minutes and Kieran Sadey netted their second goal nine minutes after the change of ends.
Ferrybank break Carrick in extratime
Carrick United 1 Ferrybank 2 (AET)
Cup and league games between these two clubs during the past decade have taken on a life of their own and their latest meeting in Tom Drohan Park on Sunday was no different. Feisty and full-blooded it was the home side who went in front through Dylan Wall after 11 minutes. They held their lead until Sean Duffy equalised with ten minutes remaining. The all-important winning strike arrived eight minutes into the first period of extratime when Stephen Imiren netted to send Richard Gaffney's men on their next task in the Centenary Cup.
