Waterford United 0 St Patrick's Athletic 1: St Patrick's Athletic knocked last year's beaten finalists out of the competition at the RSC last night in a game that was more absorbing than exciting. The deadlock was broken on 73 minutes when man of the match Keith Fahey swung over a free from the right and Darragh Maguire headed into the net off the far upright.

United almost took the game to a replay at the death but the St Patrick's goalkeeper, Barry Ryan, pulled off a super save on 90 minutes to turn a 10-yard drive from Colm Heffernan out for a corner.

The two best chances of the first half materialised just before the break. On 42 minutes, United's Willie Bruton took a short free-kick to Willie Doyle but he scuffed his shot from 12 yards. Seconds before half-time Paul Donnelly unleashed a shot but United goalkeeper Patrick Holden saved at the far post.

In the only other incident of note in the first period, Robbie Doyle split the United defence on 33 minutes with a through ball to Keith Dunne but Bruton snuffed out the danger with a last-ditch tackle. Six minutes into the second half, Michael Foley saw his shot shave the top of the Waterford crossbar. On 53 minutes, Robbie Doyle's header was turned out for a corner by Holden.

WATERFORD UNITED: Holden, Breen, Frost, Grant, Doherty , Purcell, Yelverton, Mulcahy, Doyle, Bruton, Waters. Subs: Andrews for Doherty (58 mins), Heffernan for Doyle (68 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan, Prenderville, Bell, Donnelly, Maguire, C Foley, Dunne, Fahey, Doyle, Rowe, M Foley. Subs: Smith for Doyle (85 mins), Maher for M Foley (92 mins).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).