Waterford FC suffered late heartbreak at the RSC on Friday evening, as an injury-time goal in extra-time saw the Blues exit the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup to the hands of Athlone Town AFC.
After a quiet opening to the game, Darragh Leahy had a golden chance to put the Blues in front on 18 minutes when he got his head on the end of Connor Parsons super left-wing corner-kick, but his header was just inches wide of Axworthy’s back post as the hosts began to up the tempo.
Waterford carved out a good opening to take the lead out on the right-side on 28 minutes when Christie Pattisson linked up with Sam Glenfield down the right, but his first-time shot was straight into the side-netting at Axworthy’s near post.
As Barry Baggley lined up to take a left-wing corner-kick on 40 minutes, Darragh Leahy was adjudged to have been involved in an off the ball incident, before being shown a straight red-card – a red card that was rightfully overturned in the following days after the game.
Despite being a man down, it didn’t appear to faze the Blues as just two minutes later, the Blues were awarded a penalty just before half-time. Connor Parsons picked up the ball on the left before bursting into the area before been fouled by Dan McKenna, and Padraig Amond sent keeper Lee Axworthy the wrong way from 12 yards.
Blues keeper Louis Jones produced a top save to deny the First Division side an equalising goal on 50 minutes when turning Leo Gaxha’s shot around the posts before Padraig Amond volleyed over after a Christie Pattisson cross at the other end soon afterwards.
It was a brilliant ball that caused all the problems in the Waterford area as Athlone drew level three minutes later. Kyle Robinson found space down the left before whipping in a teasing delivery that saw Robbie McCourt divert to the back of his own net under pressure from Dean Ebbe.
Connor Evans, who was on the field a matter of seconds, did have the ball in the back of the Athlone net on 88 minutes when his original shot was saved, and although he put the breaking rebound to the back of the net, the flag ruled it out for an offside infringement by Padraig Amond.
There was more drama in the final seconds of added time as Waterford thought that they had won it when Barry Baggley sent over a right-wing corner that looked to have been over the line, but the officials waved play on & extra-time was required.
The first period of extra-time was entering the final seconds when the home side struck the front again when left-back Ryan Burke cracked in a shot from distance and Padraig Amond stuck out his right leg to divert the ball to the far corner past a stranded Lee Axworthy.
There was another twist to the contest on 116 minutes as Athlone Town levelled once again when Aaron Connolly found space for himself inside the penalty area and he shot past Louis Jones to put the tie in the balance once again.
The drama continued in second-half injury-time in extra-time when Athlone struck for the winner. Kyle Robinson whipped in a left-wing cross that picked out the run of McGregor at the back post, as he squeezed a header past Louis Jones.
Waterford FC: : Jones; Power, Radkowski, Leahy, Burke; Baggley (99′ McCormack), McMenamy (46′ McCourt), Glenfield; Pattisson (87′ Evans), Amond, Parsons (74′ Flynn).
Athlone Town: Axworthy; Duffy (46′ Oakley), Hand, Rodriguez (106′ McGregor), Torre; McKenna (99′ van Geenen), Tetteh (73′ Robinson), Byrne (43′ Campion-Hinds) (120′ McHugh), Gaxha; Ebbe, Connolly.
Attendance: 1,545.
