Two former Waterford United players had a day to remember at the Tallaght Stadium on Sunday last when Sporting Fingal came from behind to defeat Sligo Rovers in the FAI Cup final.
Alan Kirby, son of the former Waterford United assistant manager and Waterford FC player Dave, picked up his third winner’s medal having won his first playing for Longford Town against St Patrick’s Athletic in 2003.
The following year he scored for Longford against Waterford United in the final at Lansdowne Road. Alan, a former Johnville player, spent some time as a young lad with Aston Villa.
John Frost, the former Blues skipper who left the RSC to join St Patrick’s Athletic, was of course a member of the Waterford United side that lost to Longford Town in that 2004 final. In 2006 he played for St Pats in the FAI Cup final but again he had to settle for a runners-up medal when Derry City came out on top 4-3 after extra time.
Alan and John were unused substitutes on Sunday but both played vital roles on Fingal’s march to the final and it is wonderful to see a Waterford-born player pocket a third winner’s medal and another make it a case of third time lucky.
