Shelbourne show their class

A BIT of an epic in its own way, this FAI Cup semi final was pretty much everything you'd expect or want. The underdogs gave it as good as they got until the final 95th minute of an absorbing tie, but ultimately class won out and the holders were celebrating their third successive final by way of an away win.

Hailing the achievement, which effectively ensured them and Derry of European football next season as they conduct their personal duel for the game's two major honours, Damien Richardson claimed "we deserved completely what we got."

Nevertheless, he had lived through a torrid enough encounter, which had seen the score remain at 2-1 from the 28th minute when it might easily have been 8-4. Admitting it had been a great cup tie, Richardson added: "It was as good entertainment as you could possibly get but I do feel a tie like this deserved a better surface."

Indeed, Shelbourne once again showed they are more than a fair weather team, coping admirably with a parochial 8,500 crowd and a pitch which was even more hostile to their brand of football.

That said, Waterford competed brilliantly and were entitled to bemoan the gift of a third minute goal for Shelbourne, and the second, which left them with a huge hill to climb, was even more benevolent. Responding within a minute, thereafter they made Shelbourne toil until the end.

The visitors continued to create the better chances and play the better football for long stretches but an effective wave of second half substitutions kept Waterford going until the end, and ultimately Alan Gough emerged as a colossus with his immaculate handling under the high ball as well as one outstanding save.

Alas, his counterpart John Grace will not be able to reflect so, fondly, on Waterford's biggest game in over a decade and the home crowd were completely silenced after only two minutes.

Yet again one of Tony Sheridan's trademark corners, whipped in at pace, was the source. Dessie Baker's initial near post flick on caused the confusion, from which Dave Campbell's additional touch was deflected over the line by a home defender. Linesman Eddie Foley appeared to make a good call.

The ever willing Mark Rutherford was to prove a constant thorn on the right side. He picked up loads of loose balls and continually ran at John Power with great success, while Pascal Vaudequin gave them a startling injection of pace on the opposite flank.

The second goal duly arrived, ironically as Stephen Geoghegan was being treated for an ankle injury, when Dessie Baker latched onto one of several intelligent balls by Mick Neville and crossed. Grace had it under control, but let the ball slip from his grasp on landing and Rutherford pounced to score from seven yards.

Within a minute though, a long ball by Tony Hall was won by Dave Campbell. Darren Browne latched onto it and slanted a superb left footed volley in off the far post.

The battle lines were now well and truly joined. At times seemingly about to be put away any second, a spirited Waterford kept coming. Nearing the break Lynch drove a low cross shot beyond Gough and the far post where Browne, challenged by Sheridan, stumbled on the ball with the net gaping.

The second period never stopped its pounding beat. Shelbourne should have put Waterford away, with three chances in three minutes nearing the hour; a superb 50 yard pass by Costello releasing Rutherford who teed up Geoghegan for a curler just wide; Rutherford then crossing for Baker volleyed over from close in and then Vaudequin teeing up Costello to shoot over.

The suspicion that Shelbourne might rue those moments intensified. Gough was error free as Waterford peppered his six yard box. Sean Riordan, along with the creative Alan Reynolds was moving the ball along nicely against his old teammates and the arrival of Trond Debes and a switch to 3-5-2 revived Waterford further.

Heretofore ensnared repeatedly by Shelbourne's well oiled offside trap, after 74 minutes, Debes's lofted through ball put Browne clear but he shot over. Then, eight minutes from time and moments after Riordan appeared to take Baker down and Sheridan tested Grace, Alan Reynolds deftly put Debes through a square defence but the out coming Gough saved bravely and cleanly just inside his area

The pressure intensified, but Gough, assisted by the outstanding Dave Campbell and Pat Scully, coped admirably. Indeed, with Waterford having to gamble, Rutherford could have added another, deep into injury time when heading Vaudequin's cross over.