Anything can happen in cup football says Waterford FC defender Kyle Ferguson, as the Blues gear up to face UCD away in tomorrow’s FAI Cup Quarter-Final.
Marc Bircham‘s men are bidding to make it to the last four for the first time since 2009, as they seek to win the cup for the first time in 41 years.
The Blues are in the last 8 courtesy of victories over Athlone Town and Kilnamanagh, and they currently sit eighth in the League of Ireland Premier Division Table with just a handful of games to go.
Ferguson says that in knockout football, every game is just as important.
“It’s knockout football. Every game is important. We’ll definitely be looking to get a win, go on and hopefully win the cup. I think we’ve got a good chance, to be honest.”
The affinity of Waterford supporters and the cup is something at the very heart of the club, and that is something that the players are well aware of. Ferguson says it would be ‘really special’ if the current crop of players could be the first Blues team to lift the cup since 1980.
“It would be really special. Cup football is really different to the league. Anybody has got a chance to go on and win it out. There’s European qualification for the winners too. That’s one thing that we’ve got an eye on. Our main focus is the league - but we take each game as it comes. This game is every bit as important.”
With the students playing in the First Division, Waterford do go into the game as favourites, but that’s a tag that Ferguson and his teammates are not buying.
“We’re favourites, but the cup’s crazy - anything can happen. In the last round we got quite a shock against - however you say it, Kilnamanagh! The standard from them was not too different. We need to make sure that we start on the front foot and put the pressure on early doors. If we keep a clean sheet and shut up shop, we’ve a great chance of winning the game.”
The Scot says UCD have nothing to lose and will come out ‘all guns blazing’ to upset the Blues.
“They’ll come out all guns blazing. We just need to be prepared for that. We’ve prepared well all week, stood ourselves in good stead. We’re ready to go.”
The match will be broadcast live on WLR FM on Friday evening, with Ray Scott and Matt Keane taking you through all the action thanks to McConnell’s Toyota Waterford.
