Both sides are pleased to get second chance

It was only to be expected really. Neither of these two teams has made a speciality of progressing in this competition at the first attempt this season and so, when they met yesterday at the Regional Sports Centre, we all should have anticipated Thursday evening's replay.

The strange part was both managers admitted they were pleased to be getting a second crack at a place in next month's cup final.

Stephen Kenny, whose side once again improved after a shaky start, knew his side's involvement in the competition might easily have been ended over the course of the first 20 minutes during which time a Stephen Gavin own goal gave the hosts a lead they then had repeated opportunities to build on.

Paul Power, on the other hand, was relieved to have gotten through a scrappy second half during which the premier division club gradually got on top, even though his own men still managed to create the half's best couple of chances. Aaron Moroney's left-footed drive seven minutes after the break would at least have provided the afternoon with a winner good enough to eclipse much of what went on during the rest of a generally disjointed and disappointing contest.

Waterford will approach the replay in a positive frame of mind, particularly if young striker Eric Bradley recovers from a hamstring problem in time, although the loss of the suspended Alan Reynolds and, possibly, the injured Kevin Whittle will balance matters out somewhat.

Longford, meanwhile, will almost certainly be without Paul McNally who picked up an ankle injury yesterday. Assuming he misses the game, McNally's absence will mean Kenny being forced into a bit of juggling at the back. The blow would be compounded by the fact that yesterday the central defender once again scored a penalty for the premier division outfit, his second successful spot kick in successive games and, for that matter, in his career.

The goal came at a good time for the visitors who had, up until then, looked uncomfortable at the back, where Brendan Rea's physical strength and Moroney's pace were causing them problems. After the equaliser they started to look more settled, although being deprived of the space to play their usual game on a very narrow pitch they never looked totally comfortable.

They might have won the game 17 minutes from time when Colin Notaro played Keith O'Connor into the six-yard box but Anthony Fennelly did outstandingly well to get a hack to the flicked shot when he had already started moving in the wrong direction.

In the final minute Stephen O'Brien might have found himself in deep water when he handled outside the box while trying to cut out a Kevin Whittle through ball for Rea but referee Paul McKeon, who pleased neither set of fans with a series of controversial decisions, missed the incident despite being well placed.

Waterford United: Fennelly; O'Brien, D Whittle, Breen, Frost; Kirby, Reynolds, K Whittle, Waters; Moroney, Rea.

Longford Town: O'Brien; Murphy, Smith, McNally (Kelly, 54 mins), W Byrne; Gavin, V Perth (Holt, 67 mins), S Byrne, Prunty; Notaro (Zellor, 82 mins), O'Connor.

Referee: P McKeon (Dublin).