Waterford FC fell to defeat at the hands of Cork City on Friday night in a 2-1 scoreline at the RSC.
Noel Hunt had given the Blues the lead but Garry Buckley levelled within a minute, before Graham Cummins gave Cork the points with his second-half strike.
The Blues had the first chance of the game as Gavan Holohan was fouled on half-way with referee Neil Doyle playing an advantage for Ismahil Akinade to charge down the right. He made space for the strike but keeper Mark McNulty made the low save.
At the other end, Rory Feely’s backpass to Matthew Connor was left short and Karl Sheppard stole possession. Blues keeper Connor made himself big and saved well.
Stanley Aborah spread play to the left to Dylan Barnet on 18 minutes and he crossed first time into the penalty area. Gavan Holohan timed his run to shoot but again McNulty saved.
The Blues opened the scoring after 31 minutes. Noel Hunt picked up possession from Rory Feely’s excellent ball over the top. The striker ran at Cork defender Sean McLoughlin before firing past McNulty at the near post.
Cork City were level after 72 seconds. Steven Beattie’s ball from the right touchline found the excellent touch of Graham Cummins inside the penalty area. He laid the ball off to Garry Buckley who fired low beyond Matthew Connor after evading the challenge of Paul Keegan.
Cork took the lead eight minutes into the second half. Buckley’s long-range strike forced Matthew Connor into a good save but Graham Cummins was quickest to react and scoop the ball over Connor.
Dylan Barnett tried his luck on the hour mark but McNulty was in the right place to save. At the other end, Cummins thought he’d put the game beyond the home side when he fired under Connor from Barry McNamee’s through ball but the offside flag ended the celebrations.
And as much as the Blues pressed, they was no way through a packed Cork defence who held out for the three points.
Waterford FC: Matthew Connor, Dessie Hutchinson, Kenny Browne, Rory Feely, Dylan Barnett (Garry Comerford 76), Paul Keegan (Courtney Duffus 69), Stanley Aborah, Bastien Héry, Gavan Holohan (Sander Puri 76), Noel Hunt, Izzy Akinade
Cork City: Mark McNulty, Steven Beattie, Jimmy Keohane, Damien Delaney, Conor McCormack, Shane Griffin, Barry McNamee (Kieran Sadlier 89), Sean McLoughlin, Graham Cummins (Josh O’Hanlon 84), Karl Sheppard (Alan Bennett 94), Garry Buckley
Referee: Neil Doyle (Dublin)
