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FAI Carlsberg Cup 2nd round

Date	16/12/2001
Score (Blues First)	1 - 2
Venue	Buckley Park, Kilkenny
Kick Off	3.00 PM
Attendance	2,500
Weather	Dry but cool
Referee	A. Buttimer (Cork)
Goal Scorers	Dempsey
Cards	Yellow: Breen, Fitzgerald W,Watson Red: Walsh
Pitch	Very soft underfoot

After last years great cup run which saw us reach the last four of the competition, the Blues fans travelled in big numbers to Buckley Park as we started this year campaign. Victory was expected but only by the odd goal as the game would be tight against our local rivals.

As the mighty Waterford United team entered the soft surface in Buckley Park, the fans behind the town goal threw streamers and balloons into the air, to welcome their hero's and Kilkenny was filled with Blue and White. The game started at a fast tempo and the Blues took charge in midfield as pushed the Cats back into their own half. Even though we controlled the play the Kilkenny keeper had little to do but smile at the Blues fans behind the goal who were jeering his every kick. It was a Waterford corner which lead to the opening goal of the game, as the blues pushed into the box, we left 2 on 2 at the back and when Byrne collected the poorly floated corner he quickly released it to the front men, who with speed and accurate passing crreated a chance which revins cooly slotted home. Against the run of play Kilkenny were one up. This goal really put the Blues on the back foot and even though we tried hard we just couldn't get back into the game as Kilkenny pace all over the partk left us for dead. Too many Waterford players were having an off day and you don't win cup matches when this happens. the fans tried in vein to lift the team but the noise seemed to fall on deaf ears. We were all happy to hear the hald time whistle and let Big Brendan and Paul Scully sort out the team during the interval.

Two changes were made for the start of the second half Davy Walsh and Joe Watson replaced Kevin Waters and Eric Bradley. Walsh filled in the gap in front of our back four while Joey played beside striker Wood. These changes helped the Blues big time and we started picking up lose balls that we were second to in the first ninety minutes.Our ball retension was better our movement off the ball improved and we started to get some half chances. It must be said that in this half that Gareth Byrne in the Kilkenny goal was outstanding. Colin O'Brien, Wood, Dempsey, Fitzgerald and Watson all had chances but the Cats keeper was a thorn in our side. We dominated the second period in which Kilkenny were pinned back, but all our hard work seemed to be for nothing until with 1 minute remaining that man Gary Dempsey stepped up to strike a low drive from outside the box into the left hand side of the net. The shouts and roars from the travelling fans could be heard on the banks of the Suir as we had finally scored. A replay on thursday night was now expected as the fourth Official held up 4 minutes. It was Wood who had the first chance to win the game as he mishit a shot from 8 yards. then drama as Walsh and Hughes got involved in a fight on the halfway and almost 14 players jumped in to help calm down the situation. both players were red carded by referee Buttimer and went unhappily to the changing rooms. Time was now up and as fans made their way to the car park Kilkenny broke forward down the right and broke the Blues fans hearts as Whelehan dived to meet a low cross and send it past Binder and into the back of the net. Waterford hadn't even time to kick off as the the referee blew the final whistle and leave Waterford players, supporters and directors licking their wounds as the Cats progress to the third round.