Kilkenny rode their luck to the limit to win a thrilling FAI cup tie at Buckley Park on Saturday night. The first division promotion chasers were almost run out of the cup by Ulster Senior league side Swilly, who were two goals to the good with a mere 16 minutes remaining.

Then a Kilkenny penalty and the sending-off of a Swilly player turned the match on its head. A Paul Cashin effort was goal-bound when defender Brendan McLoughlin prevented the ball going into the net with his hands. McLoughlin was duly dismissed and Trevor Vaughan netted to bring Kilkenny back into the match in the 74th minute.

Within two minutes Pierce Walsh equalised with a blistering shot from 18 yards. In the 88th minute substitute Gerry Goodwin grabbed the winner for hard-pressed Kilkenny.

Swilly looked like pulling off the first cup shock when they went two goals ahead. The first came in the second minute of injury time in the first half when a Michael Rodgers corner was turned into the net by Gary Heaney. In the 51st minute Barry Porter grabbed a second goal after Heaney had missed two great chances for Swilly.

Kilkenny City: Connolly, J Walsh, Carolan, Breen, R Walsh, Devereaux, Cashin, P Walsh, Hale, Vaughan, Rea. Subs: Cooney for D Walsh (27 mins), Goodwin for R Walsh (54 mins), Healy for Devereaux (57 mins).

Swilly Rovers: Harley, Daly, Rodgers, McGlinchey, McLoughlin, Curran, Gregg, Laverty, Doherty, Heaney, Porter. Subs: McDaid for Heaney (70 mins).

Referee: D O'Hanlon (Waterford).