Ryan Guy and St. Patrick's Athletic suffered their first defeat of the season but still marched into the semi-finals of the Setanta Sports Cup, while Chris Konopka kept his second clean sheet for Waterford as he celebrated another win.
Linfield 1-0 St. Patrick's Athletic
A late goal from Peter Thompson settled this contest, although a tie would have been a more fair result as both teams created equal scoring opportunities.
Damien Curran forced St Pat's keeper Gary Rogers into an early save when he struck from just outside the penalty area, while up the other end Vinny Faherty tried his luck with an instictive shot.
The best chance for the hosts arrived when Mark McAllister fired over from close range after good work from Jamie Tomelty and Marcus Kane. The former Dungannon Swifts man should have convered.
Guy, who has a quiet game overall, picked out Faherty with a superb cross just before half-time, but the striker failed to hit the target as he smashed his effort over the bar.
Linfield continued to threaten with Kane and Thompson coming close to scoring, but Thompson - on loan from Stockport County - finally made the breakthrough in the final minute when he converted from 12 yards out.
St Pat's will now meet Sligo Rovers in the semi-finals, but their next outing comes on Tuesday evening with a trip across Dublin to face rivals Shamrock Rovers.
Cork City Foras Co-op 0-2 Waterford United
Konopka was rarely called into action at Turner's Cross as the Blues collected their second win of the Airtricity League campaign to stay on top of the First Division.
When the New Jersey native was needed he was fully alert and shot off his line when Cork attacker Davin O'Neill loomed down on his goal. He smoothered the ball and ended the threat posed by the hosts.
After that half-chance, it was all about Waterford as captain Alan Carey put them ahead with a penalty on 30 minutes after Vinny Sullivan was brought down.
Sullivan then capped off a fine individual performance with a goal on the hour mark when he converted a John Kearney cross. Matters were made worse for Cork when Greg O'Halloran was sent off.
Waterford will be at home to Derry City on Friday and that will act as their first real test of the season as Derry have been widely tipped to challenge them for the top spot. |
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