Waterford FC cruised into the final of the Munster Senior Cup where they’ll face Kerry after their youthful Under 20 side defeated Munster Senior League side Rockmount in the semi-final at the SETU Arena on bank holiday Monday last.
Waterford FC cruised into the final of the Munster Senior Cup where they’ll face Kerry after their youthful Under 20 side defeated Munster Senior League side Rockmount in the semi-final at the SETU Arena on bank holiday Monday last.
The Blues took the lead from the penalty spot with 24 minutes on the clock when Evan Geary was fouled in the area and after referee Ian O’Keeffe pointed to the spot, Calum Flynn dispatched the 12-yarder past Rockmount keeper David Browne.
Under the management of Sean Geoghegan for this game, Waterford doubled their advantage seven minutes later when Republic of Ireland Under 19 International Romeo Akachukwu found space inside the area to drill a low shot past keeper Browne.
Browne came to his sides rescue on 41 minutes when Anthony Adenopo beat the offside trap to go one-on-one with the netminder, but the Rockmount number one made a smart save to keep his side in the tie.
Oisin Aldred made a fine save to keep out a stinging effort from Luke Casey on 50 minutes before the latter cracked in a thunderous effort on the hour, but the ball was deflected out with Aldred denying Cian Murphy from the resulting corner.
Nathan Broderick had a chance for the visitors on 68 minutes when he tried his luck with a right-footed shot from the top of the penalty, but the ball fizzed wide of the target as the Cork side tried to get a foothold back into the game.
After Flynn had a goal ruled out for offside three minutes, the hosts did add a third goal on 73 minutes when Calum Costello turned provider for Dylan Warren to fire home past keeper Browne from deep inside the penalty area.
Costello had a chance of his own ten minutes from time, but keeper Browne saved from the attacker as the Blues saw out the rest of the game to set up a final meeting with Kerry, who beat Treaty United in their semi-final.
Waterford FC: Oisin Aldred, Joseph Forde, Shayne McDonald (Sean Keane 46), Ronan Mansfield, Adam Queally (Tony Ebhonuaye 73), Basit Ishola, Calum Flynn, Romeo Akachukwu (Mikey Carroll 46), Evan Geary, Dylan Warren (Shane O’Sullivan 73), Anthony Adenopo (Calum Costello 63)
Rockmount AFC: David Browne, Alex Hill, Kenneth Hoey (Martin Connolly 80), Cian Murphy, Adam Crowley, Jonathan Hannafin (James O’Connell 46), Jake Courtney (Brian O’Mahony 85), Danny Aherne (Daniel Smith 80), Cian Leonard, Nathan Broderick, Luke Casey.
