McGeough trusts away form will see Waterford through

WATERFORD UNITED manager Jimmy McGeough last night welcomed the quarter-final draw of the FAI Carlsberg Cup that pitched his team against Longford Town with the comment: “If we’re going to win the Cup we are going to have to do it the hard way.”

This is Waterford's third consecutive away draw in the current competition and after disposing of the challenges of the Cork MSL team Everton and Bray Wanderers at the first time of asking they are not short of confidence. But they know Longford represent their toughest task to date.

Said McGeough: "Not my favourite draw, I would have preferred to have been drawn at home to Bohemians or somebody like that.

"But we are playing better away from home this season and are in a good run of form at the moment so I am confident."

Waterford lost 0-1 to Longford when they met in the League at Flancare Park a couple of weeks ago but McGeough commented: "We had no forwards for that match, they were all injured, so we did quite well. We gave away a sloppy goal but we'll be at full-strength this time."

The matches will be played on the week-end of September 14. The draw, made in Dublin by Damien Duff and Ireland's assistant team manager Chris Hughton, worked out well with all of the fancied teams avoiding one another.

The dismissal of the cup-holders Derry City at the week-end by Galway United has left the competition wide open. Shelbourne facing a replay at home to Sligo Rovers on Thursday and Bohemians are favourites to replace Derry.