Waterford FC 2
Cork City 1 (AET)
Waterford FC are back in the League of Ireland Premier Division having come out the right side of a pulsating encounter with bitter rivals Cork City in the League of Ireland Promotion / Relegation Final at the Tallaght Stadium.
Ronan Coughlan once again proved the hero with an extra-time winner, after Connor Parsons' stunning equaliser had brought the game beyond 90 minutes - cancelling out Cian Coleman's opener for Cork.
The Blues went into the clash off the back of victories against Athlone Town and Cobh Ramblers - but they were well aware of the weight of history, given that they had fallen at this hurdle on nine previous occasions. However, in the last eight of these clashes, the First Division side had come out on top in six.
Cork City were 3-0 victors in the only previous meeting of the Munster rivals this season, that being in the FAI Cup - but Blues boss Keith Long was keen to consign that to the past, especially given the improvements his side have shown in the aftermath of that sobering night.
The Leesiders scored just 35 goals across the course of the League of Ireland Premier Division this season, while Waterford FC striker Ronan Coughlan had already ripped up the record books with his personal tally of 36. With more changes to the Cork rearguard, the Blues were looking to their talisman to exploit any defensive insecurities - for a side who made seven changes.
1,800 Blues fans made the trip to Tallaght, as a pulsating atmosphere swept Dublin for the clash of the Munster titans.
10 November 2023; Waterford supporters during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division Promotion / Relegation play-off match between Waterford and Cork City at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
First half
It was Waterford who started the brighter - which could've been expected to an extent, given they were facing a Cork side who failed to score in six of their last seven, while the Blues had lost just three of their last nineteen outings.
Roland Idowu made a bright start down the right flank, turning past his man before whipping an enticing ball toward the near post which was palmed away by Tiernan Brooks in the third minute.
Early momentum was with the Blues, and joy continued out wide, as Rowan McDonald slipped in Romeo Akachukwu who was stopped in his tracks by Andrii Kravchuk.
An excellent block from Conor Drinan denied Ryan Burke, before McDonald then stung the palms of Brooks from distance.
The first real opportunity of the game came on 12 minutes - Darragh Power won possession in the middle of the park and threaded through Ronan Coughlan. The Blues striker chopped inside his man and looked destined to blaze home his 37th goal of the campaign - but fired left and wide.
Power then proved the saviour of Waterford as he somehow managed to nick the ball from the boot of Ben Worman - as he looked destined to tap home from six yards out.
Another big chance came the way of Waterford on 19 minutes as Coughlan turned provider to play in Parsons. The midfielder shot hard and low toward the bottom left corner but Brooks did well to turn the ball around the post.
10 November 2023; Connor Parsons of Waterford has a shot on goal saved by Cork City goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division Promotion / Relegation play-off match between Waterford and Cork City at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Despite being dominant in the opening quarter, Keith Long's men had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard - though their spirits were definitely lifted by their opponents being forced into two early changes, as both Kravchuk and Conor Drinan succumbed to injury within 24 minutes.
Jonas Hakkinen was caught sleeping by the Blues high press moments later, but Akachukwu unselfishly chose to square rather than shoot - which proved to be the wrong decision.
As the half wore on, Cork began to grasp a foothold on proceedings, and twice the Blues were let off the hook. Great play for Ben Worman on 29 minutes saw the 22-year-old skip past Darragh Power and fizz the ball across the face of goal, but luckily for Waterford - Cian Bargary couldn't find the required touch to open the scoring.
Substitute Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh caused the Blues a couple of problems within minutes of his introduction, and he was left with his head in his hands as neither Barry Coffey or Bargary could get on the end of his delivery moments afterward.
The lively Roland Idowu then skipped past a number of defenders in the area before squaring to Parsons, but his effort was bravely blocked by Aaron Bolger.
More injury concerns arose for the Leesiders towards the end of the half, as striker Ruairi Keating went down heavily on his elbow, looking in visible distress for the minutes that folowed.
Tiernan Brooks once again came to the rescue of Cork on the cusp of half-time, as a misplaced pass by Hakkinen saw Coughlan play it out wide to Idowu, and his pull back was hammered toward goal by Akachukwu - but Brooks again stood tall to deny the 17-year-old and turn it away for a corner.
Richie Holland would've been relieved that his side weren't behind at the interval, as one couldn't help but feel that Waterford needed to convert their superiority into the all-elusive opening goal, Ryan Burke again going close in added time.
Scoreless it remained at the break, somehow.
Second half
Unsurprisingly, Keating didn't emerge for the second period and one imagined that the Blues smelt blood at this point, but how would they respond to Keith Long's half-time address?
A header from Barry Coffey floated harmlessly wide early on, before the high-stakes encounter once again exploded into life.
Another golden opportunity presented itself to Waterford when Coughlan spun on the halfway line and the Blues broke 3-on-2 as Parsons chose the onrushing Idowu, but he drove over from close range to Waterford's despair.
On swept Cork upfield and substitute Cian Murphy forced Sam Sergeant into a superb stop, before the Blues 'keeper again came to the rescue to deny Jonas Hakkinen's deft touch from the resultant corner.
The all-important moment finally arrived on 56 minutes - as from a free-kick, up rose captain Cian Coleman at the back post to give Cork the lead - the Blues made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal. Advantage Cork, regardless of whether or not it was deserved.
10 November 2023; Cian Coleman of Cork City celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division Promotion / Relegation play-off match between Waterford and Cork City at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The million-miles-an-hour tempo of the tie began to dissipate as Cork were contented by their advantage, referee Damien McGrath becoming more prominent as time progressed given a number of needless fouls from a Blues perspective.
Still, they held firm and went in search of the equaliser - and when it came, my goodness was it worth the wait. Darragh Power whipped the ball toward the area but it was intercepted - though the loose ball landed at the right boot of Connor Parsons. Once he opened out his shoulders, you knew exactly what was coming next as the ball flew into the top right corner from 20 yards. 1-1 with 69 minutes played and pandemonium among the Blue Army.
An eighth goal of the season for Parsons, the Blues suddenly back in the ascendancy.
10 November 2023; Waterford supporters celebrate their first goal during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division Promotion / Relegation play-off match between Waterford and Cork City at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Keith Long introduced Dean McMenamy and Cameron Cresswell as they went in search of a winner, and they very nearly found one when Ryan Burke played in Coughlan over the top - but once again captain Coleman proved the scourge of Waterford as he denied the Blues talisman with yet another outstanding block.
It was nothing short of a miracle how Cork didn't find themselves back in front on 80 minutes - as Barry Coffey squared to Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh, who couldn't get the touch with the net wide open.
Ryan Burke tried his luck on 84 minutes but it was blocked by Coleman, before Darragh Power's superb cutback was missed by everyone in a Waterford shirt. Cameron Cresswell then fired wide from a free-kick as extra time loomed large, but it was Waterford asking all the questions at this point.
Waterford very nearly found the winner in stoppage time as Darragh Power got his head to Barry Baggley's corner, but his effort went inches wide before Giles Phillips flicked over the bar. Extra time required to determine who would be playing Premier Division football in 2024.
Extra-time
As extra-time commenced in this fantastic game of football, we were still no closer to learning the winner. McMenamy blazed over from distance early on for Waterford before Phillips made a crucial challenge on the newly-introduced Tunde Owolabi.
Goalscorer Connor Parsons was out on his feet by 95 minutes and replaced by Shane Griffin, and he immediately linked up with the excellent Darragh Power - though once again the Leesiders held firm in defence.
That solidity eventually had to fold, and so was the case on 99 minutes - as Cian Coleman dragged down Ronan Coughlan and referee Damien McGrath pointed straight to the spot. Penalty to Waterford.
Up stepped Coughlan seeking goal number 37 of a remarkable campaign - and he sat down Brooks with unerring confidence before slotting the ball down the middle. Waterford finally had their deserved lead, and were just twenty minutes away from the promised land.
10 November 2023; Ronan Coughlan of Waterford and team-mates celebrate after he scored their second goal during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division Promotion / Relegation play-off match between Waterford and Cork City at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
The travelling Blues support could be heard to a man at this point, but Cork were still in this tie and when Owolabi scuffed wide when racing in behind - it still served as a reminder that this game was far from over. The half-time whistle sounded for the extra period, and the tension was palpable in Tallaght.
Waterford fans would've had their nails bitten to nothing upon the resumption - as a thunderous effort from Owolabi came crashing back off the crossbar with Sargeant serving as a bystander. Still, the Blues lived to tell the tale - at least momentarily.
Bodies dropped left, right and centre as the Blues threw themselves on the line for the cause - just five minutes remaining in the most dramatic of campaigns. Coughlan fired straight at Brooks late on with just one minute left, the fatigue so apparent even he looked on the ropes.
Four minutes added time was sounded as Coughlan was declared the man-of-the-match, unsurprisingly given his 50th goal contribution of the season.
The twists, the turns, the highs, the lows - worth every single second. The full time whistle sounds, Waterford FC have done it - they are back where they belong. Back. In. The. Big. Time.
Waterford FC: Sam Sargeant; Darragh Power, Derik Osede, Giles Phillips, Ryan Burke; Barry Baggley (Niall O'Keeffe '114), Rowan McDonald (Killian Cantwell '111), Connor Parsons (Shane Griffin '95); Roland Idowu (Dean McMenamy '69), Ronan Coughlan, Romeo Akachukwu (Cameron Cresswell '69)
Cork City: Tiernan Brooks; Cian Coleman, Josh Honohan, Jonas Hakkinen; Aaron Bolger, Barry Coffey (Gordon Walker '90), Ben Worman, Andrii Kravchuk (Joe O'Brien-Whitmarsh '24); Cian Bargary (Tunde Owolabi '90), Ruairi Keating (Cian Murphy '46), Conor Drinan (John O'Donovan '19)
Referee: Damien McGrath
