Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 November 2023 | 7:45 pm | LOI Men's Promotion / Relegation Playoffs | 2023 |
Match Report
Rebels suffer the Blues after Coughlan’s Extra Time Penalty
Waterford secured promotion to the Premier Division with a 2-1 playoff win over Cork City in Tallaght Stadium, the game proving to be one of the most thrilling and chaotic games of the entire League of Ireland season.
Cork suffered intense pressure for large bulks of the opening period but took the lead against the run of play, Cian Coleman heading home at the back post in the 56th minute to make it 1-0.
An incredible strike from Connor Parsons drew the score level five minutes later, the number ten curling a fantastic effort into the top right corner from outside the box.
The score was level at ninety minutes with Ronan Coughlan converting a penalty in the first half of extra-time to fire The Blues into the promised land.
Waterford dominated the opening battles as Cork were dogged by individual errors and shambolic defensive organisation in the first half.
Ronan Coughlan, who comes off a record-breaking season in the First Division, was bound to relish his chances against a team that shipped 64 goals over the course of the campaign. The former St. Patrick’s Athletic forward nearly fired his side in the lead early on, running on to a long ball and dropping the shoulder past Cian Coleman before blasting a shot over Tiernan Brooks’ crossbar.
Coughlan found himself involved once again minutes later, this time flicking a long ball into the feet of Connor Parsons who broke through on goal and fired inches wide of Cork’s left post.
Things only got worse for Richie Holland’s squad, as both Conor Driran and Andrii Kravchuck were forced off injured early on under surmounting pressure from The Blues.
The Rebel Army continued to lapse in possession but nearly bagged two goals against the run of play, Cian Bargary twice squandering golden opportunities.
Both chances followed the near exact same pattern as Cork worked the ball up the left flank before sending the ball across goal. On both occasions Bargary was perfectly positioned, free at the back post, and on both occasions the winger failed to sort his feet out and convert the chance.
Cork left the first half shellshocked and suffered a hammer blow going into the second as top scorer Ruairi Keating was deemed unable to continue play with what looked to be a hand/arm injury. Problems persisted as they were again left far too exposed on the break, Idowu firing over a fantastic chance to put Waterford in the driving seat.
Despite a dreary sixty minutes with Cork looking like they’d need a miracle to retain premier division football, Coleman headed home to put The Rebel Army in the lead in the 56th minute. It was a somewhat strange goal, John O’Donovan bending in a free kick from the left side of the box, the ball going unanswered as Sam Sargeant was left clambering in no-man’s land, Coleman there to head home at the back post.
Waterford looked deflated from that point, and you maybe just get the sense that Cork might have the confidence to finish out the job despite their woeful defending. It took a piece of ingenuity from Parsons to brings his side back to life and level affairs, catching the ball on the edge of the area and unleashing a venomous effort that soared into the top right corner.
Both sides huffed and puffed for the remaining 20 minutes of the second half but were unable to find the breakthrough as the ninety minutes concluded level.
As extra time began it looked the game may have been flattening out with players on each side losing legs, understandable given just how chaotic and end-to-end regular time had been.
That prospect was soon thrown out the window as Coughlan was brought down in the box after getting the better out of Gordon Walker, referee Damien MacGraith pointing to the spot instantly.
It was an icy-cool finish from Coughlan twelve yards out, a quick stutter step baiting Brooks into a premature reaction, Coughlan slotting home comfortably.
Substitute Babatunde Owolabi nearly single-handedly pulled Cork back into the game, the winger cracking the crossbar at the beginning of the last 15 minutes.
From there Waterford held out, The Blues reaching the promised land as Cork endure an apt ending to a dire season.
Timeline
| 18' | Conor Drinan John O'Donovan | |
| 23' | 23. Andrii Kravchuk | |
| 26' | Andrii Kravchuk Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh | |
| 46' | Ruairi Keating Cian Murphy | |
| 6. Rowan McDonald | 53' | |
| 56' | 4. Cian Coleman | |
| 10. Connor Parsons | 69' | |
| Roland Idowu Cameron Cresswell | 70' | |
| Romeo Akachukwu Dean McMenamy | 70' | |
| 3. Ryan Burke | 88' | |
| 88' | 2. Joshua Honohan | |
| 88' | 4. Cian Coleman | |
| 90' | Barry Coffey Gordon Walker | |
| 90' | Cian Bargary Babatunde Owolabi | |
| Connor Parsons Shane Griffin | 96' | |
| 19. Ronan Coughlan | 101' | |
| 106' | John O'Donovan Jaze Kabia | |
| Rowan McDonald Killian Cantwell | 111' | |
| 14. Derik Osede | 112' | |
| 2. Darragh Power | 113' | |
| Barry Baggley Niall O'Keeffe | 113' | |
| 4. Killian Cantwell | 117' | |
| 117' | 29. Jaze Kabia |
Past Meetings
 
(Second Round)
3 - 0FAI Cup
Turner's Cross Cork City v Waterford |
|
(Semi Final)
1 - 2Munster Senior Cup
Ozier Park Waterford v Cork City |
|
(Round 31)
1 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Regional Sports Centre Waterford 1-2 Cork City |
|
(Round 19)
0 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Turner's Cross Cork City 0-0 Waterford |
|
(Round 11)
1 - 2LOI Men's First Division
Regional Sports Centre Waterford v Cork City |
|
(Round 5)
2 - 0LOI Men's First Division
Turner's Cross Cork City v Waterford |
|
(Series 16)
0 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Turner's Cross Cork City v Waterford |
|
(Series 7)
0 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Regional Sports Centre Waterford v Cork City |
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Turner's Cross Cork City FC v Waterford FC |
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Regional Sports Centre Waterford FC v Cork City FC |
2 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Regional Sports Centre Waterford FC v Cork City FC |
0 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Turner's Cross Cork City FC v Waterford FC |
1 - 2LOI Men's Premier Division
Regional Sports Centre Waterford FC v Cork City FC |
3 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Turner's Cross Cork City FC v Waterford FC |
2 - 1LOI Men's Premier Division
Regional Sports Centre Waterford FC v Cork City FC |
2 - 0LOI Men's Premier Division
Turner's Cross Cork City FC v Waterford FC |
Ground
| Tallaght Stadium |
|---|
| Tallaght Stadium, Whitestown Way, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 XC9W |
Alex Cunningham
Alex is a second-year Journalism student at DCU. As well as being a soccer enthusiast, he's also an avid athletics fan, competing in the sport for over ten years.
Full-time: Waterford 2-1 Cork City. The Blues are going to the Premier division!
Four minutes of added time to be played in Tallaght!
Cantwell and Kabia both carded.
Waterford continue to hold out with just a few minutes of play left to go!
O'Donovan goes off for Kabia, while McDonald is replaced by Cantwell.
Owolabi cracks the crossbar! He unleashes a fiery shot from the edge of the box that has Sargeant beat, the ball rebounding back into the feet of Whitmarsh who's flagged for offside.
Second half of extra time gets underway.
Owolabi jinxes into the box but is unable to find goal as he scuffs an effort wide.
Goal! Coughlan does the little stutter step and baits Brooks into moving early, Coughlan calmly slotting home!
Penalty! Coughlan gets the better of Walker in the box and is brought down, referee Damien MacGraith pointing to the spot instantly!
It's been an uneventful few minutes, both sides possibly beginning to lose their legs after an end-to-end display.
Parsons replaced by Griffin.
Extra time begins.
90 minutes conclude with the score level. We're heading for extra time!
Bargary and Coffey are replaced by Walker and Owolabi.
Four minutes of added time to be played in Tallaght.
Honohan, Coleman and Burke carded after a physical altercation.
Parsons sends an inviting cross into the box and it's snapped up by Creswell, who has his header deflected by Worman, the ball flying out for a corner.
Whitmarsh misses a big chance at back post, failing to sort his feet out in time.
McMeany and Creswell are brought on to replace Akachukwu and Idowu.
Goal! Parsons fires Waterford level! The no.10 catches the ball on the edge of the box, before producing a venomous finish into the top right corner!
Waterford have looked to been dealt a hammer blow with Coleman's goal, The Blues looking signifigcantly flatter as Cork may begin to feel confident enough to finish the job.
Attendance tonight in Tallaght tallied at 4,032.
Goal! Coleman fires Cork ahead almost entirely against the run of play! O'Donovan bends in a free kick from the edge of the box and catches an out of position Sargeant off guard, Coleman at the back post to head in!
Ryan McDonald carded.
Another huge miss for Waterford! Cork again caught completely exposed on the break, Parsons picking the ball up to drive at the heart of the defence. He passes to Idowu on his right, the winger opening up his body well before skying his shot into the South stand.
Play back underway in Tallaght Stadium. Keating deemed unable to carry on and is replaced by Cian Murphy.
Half-time: Waterford 0-0 Cork City.
Achawuku goes close! A swift break down the left sees the ball squared to the forward, who opts for a finish at the near post, Brooks producing a brilliant save to paw the ball away.
Keating now back in play.
More bad signs for Cork. Keating goes down clutching his arm in pain with the Cork physio now on the pitch.
Bargary squanders two brilliant chance to take advantage! They both follow the same pattern of play as Cork work the ball down the left flank before squaring the ball, Bagrary positioned ideally at the back post for a tap-in. He gets the cross on both occasions but fails to sort his feet out twice!
Things looking very worrying for Cork as they make their second change of the game, Whitmarsh coming on to replace Kravchuk.
Waterford keep piling the pressure onto Cork! A long ball sees Coughlan flick the ball into the path of the onrushing figure of Parsons, who breaks in on goal and fires inches wide of Brooks\' left post.
Cork replace Driran (who looks to be injured) with O'Donovan
A huge chance missed for Waterford! A swift counter attack from Waterford sees Coughlan played in behind a disorganised Cork backline, the forward jinxing past Coleman before blasting an effort over the bar.
McDonald goes for an adventurous effort from outside of the box, drawing another save from Brooks.
Waterford looking dangerous in the early stages, McDonald playing Idowu into the box with a tidy pass before the chance is eventually snuffed out and a corner is given.
Idowu breaks down the right wing and puts in a powerful cross that strays goalbound, Brooks reacting well to prevent the ball sneaking in at the front post.
Action gets underway in Tallaght Stadium!
Evening all and welcome to tonight's match coverage of Cork City vs Waterford in the play-off final here in Tallaght Stadium.