FAI Cup Third round/ Waterford United 1 Sligo Rovers 1:A stunning Dean Delaney save in the dying moments denied Sligo Rovers what would have been an undeserved FAI Cup win on a damp, blustery night at the RSC.
The United goalkeeper lunged magnificently to his left to keep out Fahrudin Kudozovic's superb 20-yard free-kick at the conclusion of a hard-fought cup tie.
United controversially took the lead on the quarter hour after referee Alan Kelly over-ruled assistant Ken Hennessy, who had flagged for offside and Karl Bermingham stabbed the ball home from six yards.
The striker pounced on an unconvincing header from Sligo's Jamie McKenzie who, under pressure from Ray Scully, failed to deal adequately with Daryl Kavanagh's inswinging cross from the right.
The hosts enjoyed the brighter start in terms of territory and possession. But their lead would last for only 13 minutes, as Rovers restored parity following their first meaningful attack on a windswept, rain-lashed evening.
Finding space down the left flank, midfielder Brian Cash swung a daisy-cutting cross into the path of Adam Hughes, who shrugged off David Breen to slam the ball low beyond Delaney.
Six minutes after the break, Waterford came within inches of regaining the lead, as David Breen's looping header was cleared off the line by Séamus Coleman following Cathal Lordan's corner.
As it was in the first half, United established the tempo, pinning Sligo back into their defensive third, but didn't overly trouble Richard Brush, with efforts from Lordan and Paul McCarthy sailing wide.
With 20 minutes remaining, Sligo began to exert some pressure, with Raphael Cretaro drilling a shot low into Delaney's midriff.
WATERFORD UNITED: D Delaney; P Flynn, R Hedderman, K Browne, D Breen, R Scully (WJ Reilly, 71 mins), C Lordan, P McCarthy, V Sullivan, K Bermingham (R Brosnan, 86 mins), D Kavanagh (A Mulcahy, 81 mins).
SLIGO ROVERS: R Brush; S Coleman, D Ventre, G Peers, J McKenzie, M Boyd (S Manson, 68 mins), B Cash (G Curran (68 mins), A Hughes, M Judge (M Creane, 88 mins), F Kudozovic, R Cretaro.
Referee: A Kelly(Cork).
