Waterford and St Francis never met in the Cup before, but for a long time last night the Dublin club were poised to pull off another famous victory in this competition.

Waterford had the best of the early exchanges in a rip-roaring game and were practically camped in the St Francis half of the pitch. But then, against the run of play, St Francis went in front on 27 minutes.

The ball dropped between Waterford defenders Brendan Rea and David Breen and Denis Stokes snipped in between the pair to touch the ball on to Eoin Tighe who scored from 15 yards. The equaliser arrived on the hour following a corner from the right by Alan Kirby. The ball bobbled about the goalmouth after Eric Bradley miskicked but United captain Alan Reynolds forced his way into the thick of the action and bundled the ball over the line.

St Francis were on the rack for the remainder of the game and Paul Scully, Kirby and Joe Watson all went close after some heroic defending by the St Francis rearguard.

The replay goes ahead at John Hyland Park on Wednesday.

Waterford United: Fennelly; Whittle, Frost, Reynolds, Breen, Waters, Kirby, P Scully, oriney, Bradley (Watson, 65 mins), Rea.

St Francis: Rogers; Francis, Foxton, K Tighe, Quigley Doyle, Pickard, Chandler (Sweeney, 74), E Tighe (Kelly, 65) , Stokes, Fitzell.

Referee: D McKeown.