Former Irish International the difference as Skerries lose out to Waterford
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FAI Senior Cup
Skerries Town-1
Waterford FC-4
A bit of International class ended Skerries hopes of an FAI Senior Cup run on Saturday afternoon as a brilliant Noel Hunt performance ensured Waterford remain in the hunt for cup silverware.
The lower division Leinster Senior League side were competitive against the League of Ireland outfit and became the first amateur team to score in the first round of this season FAI Cup.
However, former Irish international Noel Hunt, who was playing and scoring for Wigan Athletic as recent as last season, hit a hat trick at the Rugby Grounds and it ultimately proved the difference between the sides.
The Blues started the better and former Bluebell United attacker Izzy Akinade came close to breaking the deadlock as he hit the bar as early as 7 minutes.
Hunt then forced a good save from Davis on 21 minutes. Skerries may have felt they had weathered what was more early rain than storm, but within two minutes later found themselves trailing.
There was nothing Davis nor indeed his defence could do as Hunt let fly from 40 distance and converted in sensational fashion.
Just over 10 minutes later and Gavin Hoolhan was on hand to convert come set piece time to push the visitors advantage to two.
Waterford took that lead into the break and at that stage looked like a one sided win was on the cards.
However, the non league side came out firing after the break. Brian McKenna looked odds on the reduce the arrears within two minutes of the restart when collected a Brian Snowe pass and rounded the net minder, but found the side netting.
Hunt then had a free kick ruled out and when 60 seconds later Snowe’s effort was deflected into the Waterford net Skerries thought their luck was in.
The amateur outfit stayed within one and as a result had hope up and until the 85 minute, but two late Hunt strikes put the kind of late gloss on the scoreline that we seen as St Patrick’s Athletic beat Inchicore Athletic on Friday night.
The home side @SkerriesTownFC line out: Davis, Mullen, O’Carroll, Costello, O’Callaghan, Kiely, Hopkins (c), Dempsey, McKenna, Snowe, Lynch.
— Waterford FC (@WaterfordFCie) August 11, 2018
Waterford FC starting XI v @SkerriesTownFC: Corbet, Barnett, Comerford, Rode, Puri, Hery, Hutchinson, Keegan (c), Holohan, Hunt, Akinade.
— Waterford FC (@WaterfordFCie) August 11, 2018
