FAI Cup wrap: Waterford breeze past St Michael's in Tipperary Town

The first round of the Sports Direct FAI Cup continued with Waterford beating St Michael's AFC 5-0 at Cooke Park in Tipperary Town.

It took less than 30 seconds for the Blues to hit the back of the net, and Ronan Coughlan got the first goal against the runners up of the 2022-23 edition of the FAI Junior Cup.

Samuel Perry and Connor Parsons scored twice in the first half and that gave Waterford a 3-0 lead at the break.

Keith Long brought on Cameron Cresswell, a new recruit from IK Start in Norway, and he got his first goal for the club in the 67th minute.

Romeo Akachukwu, a Republic of Ireland Under-17 international, replaced Perry and he made it 5-0.

It looked like there was going to be an upset on the cards at Eamonn Deacy Park as Bangor Celtic took the lead against Galway United, but the runaway leaders of the First Division came back and won 4-1.

Adam Maher made it 1-0 just two minutes played, and John Caulfield’s team had the perfect response.

Wassim Aouachria equalised and Stephen Walsh scored a brace. At 3-1 Galway were cruising and Killian Brouder gave them a three goal cushion at the start of the second half.

Bray Wanderers made easy work of FAI Intermediate Cup runners up Cockhill Celtic, with the Seagulls winning 3-1 in Donegal.

This is the first time that the club has made it to the second round since 2015, the year that they got to the semi-finals and narrowly lost to Cork City at the Carlisle Grounds.

An eleven minute spell midway through the first half was all the time that Bray needed, with Ben Feeney getting the first goal. Chris Lyons doubled their advantage and Callum Thompson finished this flurry in front of the posts.

Fionn McClure pulled one back for Cockhill Celtic in the 42nd minute and this was the last