Waterford proved to be a step too far for Kilnamanagh as The Blues eased to victory in the FAI Cup at the RSC tonight.

The hosts opened the scoring with John Martin with 35 minutes played, after a dominated spell of attacking play. The sides went in at the break with only a goal between them but the second half Waterford pushed on.

Strikes from Cameron Evans and John Martin getting his brace but the game out of reach. Phoenix Patterson finished off an impressive match with a classy free kick just before Adam Buckley got a consolation goal for The Rockets.

The hosts started the contest as quickly as expected, quick passing and running caught out the Dubliners early on with miss timed challenges slowing down the game. 

Waterford were attacking from the start with crisp passing and set plays causing the Kilnamanagh defence problems. That early pressure nearly paid off as Isaac Tshipamba rattled the crossbar after a great bit of play and direct running. 

The Rockets were struggling to play out from the back and any attack they did muster was soon quashed leaving their defense exposed and needless tackles being made, with two yellow cards inside twenty minutes. 

The Blues kept pushing for the opener, firing shots at keeper Karl Coleman testing the keeper from all areas. This eventually paid off after Patterson's well struck effort from outside the area was parried back across goal from Coleman and unfortunately for him inform John Martin was there to tuck it away 1-0 after 35 minutes played. 

The travelling side seemed to respond well to going a goal down, a bit more attacking intent supplied them with a corner that saw stricker Brian Connaughton header the ball off the crossbar from outside the Waterford box for what would have been a brilliant goal.

It wasn't to be and the home side went in at the break 1-0 up.

Unfortunately for the Rockets the game got away from them in the second half and Waterford's class started to show. Cameron Evans' lovely strike put his side 2-0 up after 56 minutes followed shortly by John Martin sealing his brace with another easy finish from a Darragh Power cross.

Both sides emptied their benches after this point and the game lost its intensity. 

Phoenix Patterson rifled home a beautiful free kick with 83 minutes on the clock, and this was shortly followed by a late Adam Buckley goal for the Dublin side, something for them to bring home on their journey back. 

Waterford will be disappointed to have conceded late on but march on to the next round regardless.