by Matt Keane

There is no doubt whatsoever that Brian Murphy was the player who made sure Waterford FC remained in the FAI Cup on Friday. The Blues goalkeeper produced three incredible saves, including the penalty stop from Colm Whelan. The former Swansea City, Ipswich Town and QPR netminder was thrilled to have played a major role in helping his hometown team reach the last four of the competition.

“It’s a rollercoaster of a night, but I think that we made hard work of it. They are a good team, and if you give them the opportunity to score a goal, they’ll take them.

“They score a lot of goals in the first division, and we knew coming into the game that we needed to be at our best defensively, but we probably didn’t start great again if I’m honest. I think it’s typical cup football, and it’s part and parcel of cup football.

“I think if you look at the other results, there were plenty of goals. Finn Harps were 3-3, and there was plenty of goals everywhere tonight. I think that this game was always going to be same. I think as well that we’ve got to be better on a few things, but we’re through the semi-final now.

“I think it’s 2009 since we last played in the semi-final of the cup, and we all know it’s 1980 since we last won it, so it’s great to be still in with a chance. We’ll look forward to the semi-final when that comes about. To be in any semi-final is great, and I know how much it means to the fans. They were great tonight.

“We’ll just have to wait and see how the draw goes for us now. I’m not sure if it’s home or away, but hopefully, we’ll get a home draw, a big crowd in the RSC, but look for me, we’ve got huge games coming up. We need to win games to stay out of that relegation playoff, and whilst tonight is good, we need to look at Drogheda now on Friday.

“For me the most important thing this year is to keep the club up in the Premier League, and anything else after that is a bonus. I’m pleased with the penalty save. We study it, and we have an idea what we’re doing. Shane Nolan, Dirk Heinen, and myself go through it. I think I’ve guessed right for two or three penalties this year, and I think that I’m probably due a good save. I think that it probably got us through in the end, but look Prince has popped up with the winner, and it’s great.

“I don’t think that you get any easy games in the cup, and we knew that tonight wasn’t going to be easy. I think it’s about how we apply ourselves, and sometimes we let ourselves down with mistakes. I think we gave them chances tonight, they took them, but thankfully we scored more goals than them. That’s the most important thing.”