Cork City are through to the quarter finals of the FAI Cup for the first time since 2018 after goals from Ruairi Keating, Josh Honohan, and Cian Bargary helped them beat Waterford 3-0 at Turner's Cross.
It was a Munster derby played out under the shadow of a possible promotion/relegation play-off, and it took just a minute for the home side to take the lead against their near rivals.
This came from a Bargary cross that found Ruairi Keating in the box and the striker hit the back of the net after getting around his marker.
Waterford took a moment to adjust themselves and their newfound composure helped them win the first corner of the game. Conor Parsons’ set piece would have floated in if it wasn’t for the quick reflexes of Ollie Byrne, with the goalkeeper punching the ball away inside a cluttered penalty area.
City didn’t get their first corner until the 17th minute and Honohan doubled his side’s lead by heading in at the back post.
Jaze Kabia was then played through and the striker hit the crossbar with a powerful shot from the edge of the area.
Another opportunity to score came from a long throw that Waterford failed to deal with. Ben Worman got to this and played a quick pass to Keating, and his side footed attempt was saved by Sam Sargeant.
The first real chance for Waterford was in the 25th minute and Christie Pattison had to watch as his shot went narrowly wide at the Shed End.
Parsons did manage to put a low ball across the box once the second half started but no one in a blue jersey was able to get to it.
Waterford manager Keith Long changed things around in a bid to get back in the game by replacing Ronan Coughlan with Cameron Cresswell, who joined the club last month from Start in Norway.
His first touch of the ball in the City penalty area was met with a sliding challenge from Cian Coleman, and the defender gave the ball to Byrne before the Waterford forward could get it back.
They kept going, looking to create a something that would reignite their cup campaign. It seemed like a moment arrived when Parsons teed up Romeo Akachukwu, but Aaron Bolger got in the way of this.
As Waterford began to dominate possession, Bargary broke down the right wing and his attempt rolled inches wide at the opposite corner.
He made up for this by heading in a Barry Coffey cross to the back post in the 88th minute, and Waterford’s night got worse in injury time as Roland Idowu was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
Cork City: Ollie Byrne; Cian Coleman, Aaron Bolger (Oran Crowe 90), Ruairi Keating, Cian Bargary, Rokas Stanulevičius (Andrii Kravchuk 82), Conor Drinan (John O’Donovan 90), Ben Worman (Malik Dijksteel 69), Josh Honohan, Kevin Čustović, Jaze Kabia (Barry Coffey 69).
Waterford FC: Sam Sargeant; Ryan Burke, Niall O’Keeffe (Darragh Power 69), Samuel Perry, Conor Parsons, Andrew Baker, Ronan Coughlan (Cameron Cresswell 51), Roland Idowu, Christie Pattison (Serge Atakayi 69), Giles Philips, Romeo Akachukwu (Dean McMenamy 74).
Referee: Eoghan O'Shea.
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