Munster Senior League side Rockmount maintained their remarkable run by coming from behind to beat Waterford United 2-1 at the Regional Sports Centre last night to book their place in the semi-finals of the League Cup. It appeared that Rockmount's romance with this season's competition had begun its end when Waterford took a ninth minute lead. Alan Kirby wasn't picked up on the edge of box from Jered Stirling's corner and he shot past Packie Cassidy.
But Thomas Long struck back to level when forcing the ball home from Johnny Busteed's excellent cross on 16 minutes.
Seven minutes later Rockmount, who already had the scalps of Cork City and Cobh Rambers, took the lead when Jason Lynch converted a penalty after Long was taken down inside the area by Sean Riordan.
The other three ties went to extra-time with Bray Wanderers, Athlone Town and Derry City, the latter courtesy of a penalty shootout, joining Rockmount in the semi-finals. Bray won the battle of the league's respective divisional leaders at the Carlisle Grounds. Rovers dominated much of the first half, hitting the crossbar courtesy of Bray's Barry O'Connor on 18 minutes but went in a goal down at the break.
That came after 42 minutes when a hesitant Terry Palmer was robbed by an alert Jason Byrne who ran through to punish the error and shot low under Robbie Horgan.
Bray should have wrapped up the match in normal time but were unfortunate to hit the woodwork three times through Colm Tresson, twice, and Stephen Fox.
Rovers then equalised with an excellent goal on 75 minutes; Tony Cousins heading home a Billy Woods cross from the touchline.
But as in the FAI Cup final last May, Byrne provided Bray's match-winner in the 19th minute of extra-time after getting on the end of Barry O'Connor's flick from a Ciaran Ryan free-kick to head past Horgan.
Gavin Dykes's tenure as caretaker manager of Finn Harps began well with Jonathan Speak giving them a 34th minute lead when steering home a cross from Fergal Harkin.
A mistake by Harps' keeper Brian McKenna was punished by Derry's equaliser on 69 minutes when substitute Floyd Gilmore lobbed the ball back over the keeper who had come forward and into the net.
Paul Curran was the Derry hero in the shoot-out after extra-time failed to settle the issue, slotting home City's fifth kick to give them a 4-3 victory on penalties.
Athlone Town put their wretched league form behind them to win 2-0 at Drogheda.
After a scoreless 90 minutes, an own goal by Drogheda keeper Justin O'Neill gave Athlone the lead in the 113th minute.
Four minutes later, Parkes provided the cross for Athlone's second with Keith Shevlin shooting home at the back post.
