Waterford United 1 Cork City 1:Relegation threatened Waterford United defied the league form-book at the RSC on Saturday night and held high-flying Cork City to a draw.
Though City had won their previous two encounters with United, the latter shocked their Munster rivals by defeating them 1-0 in the opening league game of the season at the RSC in March and they came close to repeating the exercise on Saturday.
After soaking up early pressure, United took the lead on 10 minutes when a Dave Warren free from the left sideline, 20 yards out from the corner flag, evaded everybody in a crowded goalmouth and soared directly into the far corner of the net.
United's Alan Kearney had the ball in the City net again on 28 minutes but, in a controversial decision by referee Pat Whelan, a free-out was awarded even though the ball came to Kearney, who ran in from an onside position, as a rebound off the upright from a Willie John Kiely strike.
City equalised four minutes into the second half when a clever move by Kearney and Leon McSweeney put Denis Behan clean through on goal and he unleashed a magnificent drive from 16 yards. Four minutes later, United were unlucky not to regain the lead but Vinnie Sullivan's left-footed pile-driver from a Warren cross came back off the upright.
As the game swung from end to end, it took an excellent save from United goalkeeper Packie Holden on 63 minutes to prevent Joe Gamble giving the lead to City.
The visitors went within a whisker of a second goal again on 75 minutes when Behan headed inches wide from a Kearney cross that was touched on by McSweeney.
United were hard pushed to complete their panel. Kenny Browne and Darryl Kavanagh were injured, Paul McCarthy was suspended, Dave Mulcahy cup-tied and Cathal Lordan ruled out as he is on loan from City.
The replay will take place in Turner's Cross on Tuesday night with a 7.45pm kick-off.
WATERFORD UNITED: Holden, Flynn, Hedderman, Brosnan, Breen, Warren, Scully, Kearney, Sullivan, Kiely, Birmingham. Subs not used: Hayes, Mulcahy, Delaney, Fitzgerald, Grincell, Dunphy, Woodgate.
CORK CITY: Devine, Horgan, Farrelly, O'Callaghan, Murray, Gamble, Woods, Healy, McSweeney, Behan, Kearney. Subs not used: O'Brien, Lordan, McNulty, Carroll, Softic, Murphy, Kelly.
Referee: Pat Whelan (Dublin).
