Penalty thriller as Blues march on - February 21,
2001
Waterford United 0 UCD 0 (7-6 on pens)
UCD lost their last hope of joy in what is fast becoming their worst season ever when they crashed out of the FAI Cup at the third-round stage last night.
After another 120 minutes of football failed to decide the issue - the sides drew 2-2 at Belfield a fortnight ago - it was first-division Waterford who emerged victorious from a 13-goal, 17-shot penalty shoot-out and who go on to meet Cobh Ramblers at St. Colman's Park in the quarter-finals. That's means there will be at least one first-division team in the semi-finals.
It was Kevin Waters, just back after a bout of 'flu, who kept his cool to plant the winning sudden-death spot kick past Barry Ryan, after the sides were still locked at 3-3 from the regulation five kicks each. Eoin Bennis gave Waters the opening by crashing his effort off the crossbar.
Over the 120 minutes, Waterford just about deserved it: they had the better of the first ninety minutes and for Waters in particular the winning penalty made up for earlier disappointment.
He tested Barry Ryan with a fiercely driven free kick after just two minutes and then saw his dangerous cross spurned by his team-mates on the hour.
But UCD came to life in extra time and were unlucky not to steal a win. Paul O'Meara curled a long-range free around the wall and off the crossbar on 104 minutes and, with a minute to go, Robert Martin broke through one-on-one with Anthony Fennelly, but the Waterford 'keeper spread himself to save at Martin's feet.
Waterford United: Fennelly, O'Brien, Frost, Reynolds, Breen, Whittle, Kirby, Waters, Bradley, Watson, Rea
Subs: Moroney for Watson 70, P Scully for Bradley 97, Leahy for Whittle 117
Penalties: Kirby, P Scully, Breen, Frost, Reynolds, Moroney, Waters, O'Brien (X), Leahy (X)
UCD: Ryan, McLoughlin, O'Donnell, Martyn, McAuley, Kavanagh, Mahon, McDonnell, Swan, Fitzpatrick, O'Meara
Subs: Kilmurray for Fitzpatrick 61, Martin for Swan 91, Bennis for Mahon 101
Penalties: McAuley, McLoughlin, O'Donnell, R Martin, McDonnell, Kavanagh, O'Meara (X), Kilmurray (X), Bennis (X)
Referee: P Whelan, Dublin