Blues star Carey enjoying red-hot cup form

CRUCIAL goals come in all shapes and sizes and Alan Carey has no problem admitting that the goal which sent Waterford United on their way to the last four of the FAI Ford Cup was a “fluke”.

His miss-hit cross in the 24th minute of Tuesday night’s quarter-final replay at St Patrick’s Athletic was quickly followed up by a second from Willie John Kiely and, as Carey was keen to point out yesterday, there was nothing lucky about the eventual 2-0 victory.

It means Stephen Henderson’s outfit are now this season’s undefeated cup specialists having already secured the Munster Senior Cup as well as a final berth in the EA Cup on Saturday week at home to Bohemians.

The promotion- chasing Blues will also feel they can secure a first FAI Cup since 1980 (their only other success coming in 1937) with both Bohs and Shamrock Rovers also bowing out on Tuesday, ensuring Monday night’s draw will throw up a pair of wide open semi-finals.

The former Cork City and Cobh Ramblers player is back in the south east for his second stint having arrived there from Cork City in 2004.

“It was a fluke,” Carey laughed when asked about his contribution to Tuesday’s win. “It was definitely a cross, not a shot at all. Sometimes that happens and you just have to accept it. I was out on the wing and just launched it in and luckily it flew in past the keeper.

“It was a big boost for us to get an early enough lead, no matter how we got it. Willie John (Kiely) got the second and we deserved that too. We dominated until half time and I felt we were solid in the second half, I think they only had one real chance.

“We’re delighted with the result. We felt we played well enough on Saturday at the RSC to get the win so we went up there with no fear. We have a decent away record, just one loss in 16 (in all competitions), so we were very confident going up there.”

Recent FAI Cup memories are relatively bitter for Waterford and Carey who was in the line-up for the famous 2004 decider which saw Alan Mathews’ Longford Town dramatically turn around a 1-0 deficit to break United hearts.

And despite playing their part in an enthralling four-horse Division One promotion race, Carey says the Pat’s scalp was a much-needed tonic.

“It’s a boost for the club,” he said. “We haven’t been getting great crowds despite how well we’re doing in the league so hopefully this will get the excitement going around the town.

“It’s also great for the chairman John O’Sullivan. He didn’t make the match — he has been quite ill — but the win is dedicated to him. He’s been great for us all season, putting money into the club. There has never been a problem with wages and he’s made sure we’re well taken care of, travel wise, overnights and what have you. There have never been any arguments like you see at other clubs.

“The league is priority for us but we have struggled lately so actually these games against Pat’s have been a welcome distraction because we’ll transfer all this confidence back into our league games. We have the EA Cup final the weekend after next. It we didn’t have those matches we’d just be training anyway so I’d take this any day.”