FAI Cup Quarter-final (replay), Cork City 4, Waterford United 0:Denis Behan was the star of the show at Turner's Cross with a hat-trick that helped Cork City into the semi-finals of the FAI Ford Cup. Cork took full advantage of the second opportunity offered them in Waterford on Saturday and their victory was all too easy.
Waterford could not cope after an error-strewn first half had seen them surrender two goals to Cork and to Behan. They found the twin challenge of the powerful Behan and his speedy partner, Leon McSweeney, unsettling and Cork found chances came thick and fast.
This despite the fact that Waterford operated with five in midfield and Vinny Sullivan as the lone striker, and they had at least as much possession as Cork for the opening 45 minute. But their tendency to fall into error cost them dearly.
Robert Brosnan was penalised by the referee in the 12th minute when he pushed Behan as they challenged for a high clearance from Dan Murray, and the free, 22 yards from goal, was gleefully accepted up by the centre-forward. He crashed his shot wide of the wall of defenders and into the net off the hands of goalkeeper Patrick Holden.
Worse was to follow for Waterford in the 36th minute. Brosnan's path to safety was cut off by the two Cork strikers and his attempted pass to Holden was well short. Behan snatched the ball and forced his way past the goalkeeper before knocking the ball into the net.
Waterford, meantime, wasted a lot of possession. Ray Scully was given a chance in the sixth minute when Paul McCarthy's cross found him closing on goal in a central position, but he shot over. Sullivan, sent clear by Michael Devine, held his shot and Dave Warren was too high when he found time to shoot outside a crowded goalmouth.
Waterford pushed Karl Bermingham forward to partner Sullivan for the second half, but Cork were playing with great confidence and they passed their way through the defence for a glorious third goal in the 61st minute.
A quick throw from the right from Gareth Farrelly found Behan and he shifted the ball quickly across the edge of the penalty area to Colin Healy. Liam Kearney ran on to his square pass at speed and fired the ball low into the corner from 18 yards.
Cork added a fourth in the 84th minute when substitute John O'Flynn raced clear on the right. His accurate pass across the penalty area was thumped into the net by Behan who brought his personal tally of goals to six from Cork's last three matches.
CORK CITY: Devine; Horgan, O'Callaghan, Murray, Woods; Farrelly, Gamble (O'Brien 67), Healy, Liam Kearney (Softic 80); Behan, McSweeney (O'Flynn 73).
WATERFORD UNITED: Holden; Flynn, Brosnan, Breen, Hedderman; Bermingham (Grincell 69), McCarthy, Scully, Warren, Alan Kearney (Kiely 55); Sullivan (Mulcahy 78).
Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).
