MATCH PREVIEW: Waterford FC vs Sligo Rovers FC

Attention turns to the Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup this Friday night, as the Blues welcome Sligo Rovers to the RSC for our quarter-final tie in our fifth meeting between the sides this season, and we have everything you need to know ahead of kick-off.

Waterford FC vs Sligo Rovers FC

Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup Quarter Final

Friday 4th September, 2026

RSC, Waterford

7:45pm

WATERFORD FC

The Blues head into Friday’s game full of confidence after making it ten games unbeaten following last week’s impressive 2-0 win away to St. Patrick’s Athletic in Richmond Park.

Second-half goals from Jorgen Voilas & John Mahon secured the Blues their seventh win from their last ten games, as focus now moves back to the RSC this weekend as Graham Coughlan’s side aim to reach the FAI Cup semi finals for the first time since 2022.

The Blues have defeated First Division outfits Cobh Ramblers & Athlone Town – both 2-1 at home – in the second and third round of this years competition, as they now face the Bit O’Red in the last-eight stage tomorrow evening.

SLIGO ROVERS FC

Sligo make the long journey down to the south-east on Friday looking to themselves secure their place in the last four of this years domestic cup competition.

Sligo have overcome Jonesboro & Kerry – both by 4-0 scoreline – in the previous two rounds, as they set themselves up for battle against familiar opposition in the Blues tomorrow night.

The sides faced off against each other just two weeks ago, as neither side could be separated in a tight 0-0 scoreline. Our last meeting at the RSC came in June where a Pádraig Amond inspired hat-trick helped the Blues on their way to a dominant 4-0 win over the Bit O’Red.

WATERFORD FC TEAM NEWS

Will Johnson & Sam Glenfield remain the only players unavailable for selection on Friday night through injury.

GRAHAM COUGHLAN’S THOUGHTS

“Naturally, it’s going to be a tough game tomorrow night. Sligo are going to be rejuvenated coming down here under their new management – I’ve played against Darren Purse & his assistant Warren Feeney and we knocked lumps out of each other when we were players, so I don’t see it being any different on Friday night. Like two weeks ago up in Sligo, both teams went at it.

Both sides will want to win on Friday. Both sets of supporters will want to win, and I’m sure both sets of management will want to win. We want to keep our run going, and they will want to half their slide and build a bit of momentum. It’s a big game for both clubs, but it’s one we’re really looking forward to. We’re in a good vein of form at the moment, and we’ll look to keep that going.

The fans made a big impact for us last week in Inchicore, travelling in large numbers. They bring a lot of energy to us, they know we can’t be at it for the full 90 minutes so we rely on the fans to give us that energy from the stands and the buzz they create. They play a huge impact and they probably don’t realise that themselves. The fans have been responsible for a lot of our fast starts over the last couple of months. They’re a brilliant set of supporters – a little bit mad – but the hours & dedication they put in to support the club, the passion they show, we love that and we’ll respond to that, and hopefully we’ll give them something to smile and sing about on Friday night.”