Kilkenny squeak through in Cup - February 14,
2001
Kilkenny City 1 Cherry Orchard 0 (after extra time)
Kilkenny march on to an FAI Cup quarter-final meeting with Bohemians - by the skin of their teeth. New Zealand international centre back Gavin Wilkinson struck for his first goal for Kilkenny in the 120th minute of the match!
Referee John Feighery was just getting ready for a penalty shoot-out at the end of extra time when Carlos Rocha was fouled on the edge of the Cherry Orchard box. While the non-league team's defence was still trying to organise, Wilkinson stepped up and lashed a low shot to the corner of the net.
Orchard had set out their stall from the start, defending in depth and trying to hit Kilkenny on the break. The Cats attacked in waves but lacked the guile to break down the intermediate side's determined and well-organised resistance.
Their best effort was Paul McAreavey's 103rd-minute shot which brought out a brilliant fingertip save from Orchard 'keeper Brendan Kennedy. Carlos Rocha and Billy Walsh both failed to force home the loose ball.
Kilkenny City: Nelson, Purdy, Murphy, Wilkinson, Mulcahy, Johnson, Parkes, McGrath, Rocha, O'Byrne, McAreavey
Subs: O'Neill for O'Byrne 73, Brennan for Purdy 90, Walsh for Parkes 102
Goal: Wilkinson 120
Cherry Orchard: Kennedy, Barry, Luby, Smith, Harrington, Curley, Horan, Dunne, Christie, Reid, O'Brien
Subs: McNeill for Luby 46, Togher for Dunne, Kenny for Christie 105
Referee: J Feighery (Dublin)