The Blues turn their attention to the FAI Cup this Friday as John Coleman’s men make the journey to Turners Cross to take on Cork City FC in our Third Round meeting, and we have everything you need to know ahead of kick-off!
Cork City FC vs Waterford FC
Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup Third Round
Turners Cross
Friday 15th August
7:45pm
WATERFORD FC
Waterford make the journey to Turners Cross on Friday looking to reach the quarter-final stage of this years FAI Cup with a positive result away to Munster rivals Cork City FC.
The Blues head into the game on the back of a 0-0 draw away to Drogheda United FC last Friday in Sullivan & Lambe Park in their latest league outing.
Goals from Tommy Lonergan, Conan Noonan & Trae Coyle along with a brace from Pádraig Amond gave the Blues a 5-1 win against St. Mochta’s FC at the RSC in their second-round tie in July.
CORK CITY FC
There’s been quite a change in Turners Cross in recent weeks, with injuries & departures affecting the City squad depth. Cathal O’Sullivan has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 season after suffering an ACL injury, whilst Milan Mbeng, Djenairo Daniels & Malik Dijksteel have all departed the club in recent weeks.
Cork remain bottom of the Premier Division table – 7 points behind nearest placed Sligo Rovers, and 15 points behind the Blues going into Friday’s cup game.
A 0-0 draw away to Derry City last Friday along with a 1-0 win at home to Galway United the week before has earned Ger Nash’s side 4 points in the last 2 weeks, as they look to make it to the quarter-final stage of this years FAI Cup.
TEAM NEWS
Head Coach John Coleman is hopeful of having Darragh Leahy available for selection after Leahy missed last Friday’s trip to Drogheda due to injury. Matty Smith & Kacper Radkowski remain absent through injury.
JOHN COLEMAN’S THOUGHTS
“I think it’s a massive game. People can say you’ll say that every week, but this really is the biggest game of our season. I’ve got to see it as such. And the players have been left in no uncertain terms to gravitate the game. And I’m sure they feel exactly the same way.
We’re going to have to show our passion and our fights like the fans will, because I know our fans will travel in theIR numbers. They’ll be brilliant. And we’ve got to reward them and we’ve got to pay that back and try and give them something to cheer about.
You can’t guarantee anything in football, but the one thing I’d like to guarantee is that we’re going to run our legs off on Friday and hopefully get the right result. But that can be down to a lot of variables. But the one thing that shouldn’t be down to variables is our worth and our efforts.”
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