FAI Cup Second Round
Waterford United 1-0 Shamrock Rovers
At the Waterford RSC
Friday, February 7, 1997
Attendance: 6000 (a record crowd for the RSC)
Weather: Calm
WATERFORD UNITED SHAMROCK ROVERS 1: John Grace 1: Robbie Horgan 2: John Power 2: Chris Malone 3: Joe Reynolds 3: Paul Byrne 4: Tommy Lynch 4: Leonard Curtis 5: Tony Hall (C) 5: Paul Whelan 6: Paul Scully 6: Aaron Lynch 7: Trond Debes 7: Derek Treacy 8: Jason Bowman 8: Tony Cosuins 9: Donal Golden 9: Sean Francis 10: Alan Reynolds 10: Pat Fenlon 11: Gary Innes 11: Mark Kenny --- --- 12: Colin Fanning 12: Stephen Grant 13: Sean Riordan 13: John Toal 14: Darren Browne 14: Niall Keogh Mgr: Tommy Lynch Mgr: Pat Byrne Referee: John Feighery (Dublin) Referee's Assistants(!): Paul Moyer, John O'Byrne (both Dublin)
A night to remember from start to finish! The last four years may have been among the worst that Waterford football followers have had to sit through, but this fantastic victory over the side that has more Cup wins to their name than any other, was surely one of the greatest glory glory nights the Blues have ever experienced.
The last time the teams met in the Cup, Rovers came out on top 3-0. Going back slightly further in the history books was the Cup Final defeat in '86, when Rovers took the middle of their three-in-a-row doubles.
And then came tonight. Rovers were out-thought, out-played and out-scored.
It always had the makings of a special night. The fact that it was Rovers. The fact that it was at home, in front of six thousand screaming spectators - twice the previous record crowd at the RSC. Three different TV crews were there. WLR were carrying their first ever live soccer match to 60,000 listeners. And it was under lights. The ingredients were right for a memorable occasion.
Rovers came out to a fairly good reception, but the real roar came when the home side appeared, led by captain Tony Hall. That cheer though, was nothing compared to the one that arrived on nine minutes, which surely must have been heard all the way over in Wales. Trond Debes won possesion by the half-way line right in front of the stand,
the Norwegian favourite played a short ball forward to Alan Reynolds. Reynolds seemed to be dawdling, though that just lulled Rovers into a false sense of security. With majestic vision, he somehow spotted the run of Donal Golden into the penalty area, Golden stooped down low to connect, and the rest was history. Cue wild celebrations.
It was almost telepathic - the Rovers defence had been sent to sleep, and were then punished. And yet, the early indications had been that the visitors would settle quickly. They were more comfortable on the ball, and seemed to have the Blues defence rattled.
As soon as the ball flew past Robbie Horgan, that all changed. From now on, it was Rovers who lost their composure, as Waterford United dominated the first half, and really were unlucky not to increase their advantage. Paul Scully was unfortunate to steer his snap-shot inches wide, and Gary Innes also came close, having his goal-bound strike deflected away by Chris Malone.
The Hoops had to do something, and did force one effort on target during the opening 45, when a deceptive effort from Pat Fenlon was fielded well by John Grace. But, for the remainder of the first half, the Blues maintained their pressure, and almost forced the second when a lovely flick form John Power was headed just over by Trond Debes right on half-time.
The second half may have seen less incident, but it's not as if the majority of the six thousands cared. Waterford may have become more defence-minded, but the atmosphere remained electric. It was here that the Blues defence came into their own, with the Harp Lager Man of the Match player-manager Tommy Lynch and the unflappable Tony Hall dominant.
It was Hall who produced the decisive tackles at the right time, blocking a Sean Franics strike in a packed goalmouth, and superbly dispossessing the same player when he virtually through one-on-one with John Grace.
On 89 minutes, Pat Fenlon had Rovers' destiny in his hands. Unmarked on the edge of the area, Fenlon slotted a ravenous effort to the right of Grace, but beyond the far paost too. Injury time saw last ditch efforts from Rovers - Mark Kenny's corner from the left at the death was the sort of kick that's every striker's temptress; it bounced off a United head and onto the bar.
Last chance? Not exactly, as then came another chance to send the home supporters reaching for the valium. Derek Treacy, on the edge of the six yard box, was ready to fire Rovers back into the Cup. That was until the foot of that man Tony Hall intervened, it went out for a corner from which Rovers could do nothing, and that was that.
The final whistle was the cue for celebrations the likes of which the city of Waterford hasn't seen in years. A famous victory over Shamrock Rovers on a glorious night for Waterford football. Just terrific!
Sadly though, a small minority of Rovers so-called supporters (almost all of which were brilliant and a credit to their club) disgraced themselves afterwards by throwing bottles, injuring two people before charging at gardai. The authorities had things well under control, and dissolved the problems quickly.
As for Waterford United, their ecstatic fans will be listening closely to the radio this Friday morning to see who The Mighty Blues will be facing in the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup, the club's first appearance in the last eight since 1986, when they made it to the Final.
As far as 1997 is concerned, is it a case of blue is the colour?