Kilnamanagh bow out to Waterford as Saints march on in tense fashion

There were mixed fortunes for Kilnamanagh and St Patrick’s Athletic in the second round of the FAI Cup last night.

Despite being at very different ends of the Irish soccer spectrum, both sides were bidding to reach the last-eight of the competition. Leinster Senior League outfit Kilnamanagh produced a commendable display against Premier Division opposition in the form of Waterford at the RSC, before eventually succumbing to a 4-1 defeat.

There was high drama for St Pat’s at Turner’s Cross, with a penalty shootout ultimately determining the outcome of their duel with Cork City following traded goals from Chris Forrester and Barry Coffey in normal time.

The Saints held their nerve from 12 yards, however, with four perfect spot-kicks propelling them towards a 4-1 success.

Given the difference in status between them and their Munster counterparts, Kilnamanagh were ranked outsiders for a place in the next phase of the Cup.

Yet despite breathing a sigh of relief when an early strike by Isaac Tshipamba rattled their crossbar, the visitors held firm for much of the opening period.

Still, Waterford offered the greater attacking threat and John Martin eventually broke the deadlock on 36 minutes. Though the floodgates were expected to open at this point, Kilnamanagh shook the woodwork themselves following a powerful header from Brian Connaughton.

Kilnamanagh players warming up before their game with Waterford FC at the RSC grounds on Friday night Photo by Les Evans

This kept Marc Bircham’s Blues on high alert and there was a sense that a second goal was needed in order to kill off the challenge of Kilnamanagh.

This score finally arrived on the half-hour mark, when Cameron Evans fired home from distance.

Martin (his second) and Phoenix Patterson increased the gap as the action progressed, but Kilnamanagh did at least end the night on a high with Adam Buckley finding the net on 87 minutes.

Across the province on the Leeside, Forrester had looked set to be the St Pat’s match-winner when he calmly converted a penalty in the 90th-minute.

That was until Coffey cancelled out their lead deep into stoppage-time and forced an additional 30 minutes of play.

Pat’s manager Stephen O’Donnell

Although now a tier below the Saints in the League of Ireland First Division, Cork City were keen to show they could still mix it with top-flight opponents.

Their tenacity and spirit ensured the sides were inseparable after 120 minutes, but it was St Pat’s who pulled through in the subsequent shootout.