Waterford FC 2 Athlone Town 3 (AET)
Waterford FC made their Sports Direct FAI Senior Cup exit in a dramatic game against Athlone Town at the RSC.
Blues boss Keith Long made just two changes with Dean McMenamy and Darragh Leahy coming for Grant Horton and Rowan McDonald who both picked up knocks.
Athlone played a defensive formation in the opening period and frustrated the Blues with few chances at either end.
However, the game turned in a two minute period five minutes before the break. As Waterford prepared to take a corner, referee David Dunne stopped the game to produce a red card for Blues' centre half Darragh Leahy who was as confused as everyone else to be sent off.
Eventually, the corner that was cleared, the ball fell to Connor Parsons who surged back into the Athlone penalty area only to be fouled by Dan McKenna and Dunne had no hesitation in pointing to the spot
Podge Amond dispatched the resultant penalty to give the Blues the lead.
Athlone pressed hard for an equaliser and were rewarded 15 minutes from time when Kyle Robinson's cross was turned into the Waterford net by Robbie McCourt and there was late drama with the last kick of the game when the ball seemed to be over the Athlone line but the ref waved play on and then blew for full time.
In the seconds that followed Keith Long was also sent off for remonstrating with the referee.
Waterford went back in front on 105 minutes when Amond deflected a Ryan Burke shot past Lee Axworthy but Athlone levelled 4 minutes from the end through Aaron Connolly.
And then deep in injury time, Peter McGregor headed Athlone into the next round when he met a Kyle Robinson cross from the left.
