Gavin Molloy sends Shels past Blues and into FAI Cup final

Shelbourne are off to the Aviva Stadium for the first time since 2011 after their 1-0 victory over Waterford in the semi-finals of the FAI Cup.

It was an early goal from Gavin Molloy that decided who will play Derry City next month in Dublin.

Despite the narrow victory for Damien Duff's team, it was a comfortable win for a team who last won a cup semi-final in 2018.

That was the semi-final of the Leinster Senior Cup, and the Reds defeated Bluebell United that night 3-0.

The Blues, who were defeated in last year’s Cup semi-final by eventual runners-up Bohemians, wanted to make their own bit of history on Sunday.

Their last day out at Lansdowne Road was in 2004 and the last time they played in any final was in the Munster Senior Cup in 2013.

The 4,952 people inside the RSC knew the history and Waterford drew from their energy. An early advance into the Shelbourne half led to Phoenix Patterson picking out Darragh Power. The attack minded full-back put a low cross into the box and Brendan Clarke scooped this up with ease.

The Blues retreated into a tight 4-5-1 shape after this with Raul Uche acting as the sole man up top. Shelbourne enjoyed the ball when they had it and they had their first shot on goal in the 11th minute through Sean Boyd.

The striker, who has four goals so far in this season’s FAI Cup, had to watch as his off the shoulder attempt bobbed narrowly wide. Two other opportunities fell his away after this and each one was blocked by Alex Baptiste.

Then, Mattie Smith collected a pass in the centre of the pitch and ran five yards. The midfielder spotted a run into the area by Molloy and he sent the ball straight to the full-back. Molloy put the ball across the face of goal with the inside of his left boot and Shelbourne