Waterford FC v Athlone Town - FAI Cup Third Round

Waterford FC host Athlone Town AFC at the RSC on Friday, 14 August 2026, in the third round of the Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup. It is a straight knockout tie between a Premier Division side and a First Division club making the trip down from the midlands, the kind of cup pairing that regularly throws up an upset in Irish football.

What to expect

The FAI Cup is Ireland’s oldest and most open football competition, and third round ties like this one are where the gap between divisions is tested directly, a bad night for the home side and a First Division club can knock out a Premier Division one in front of their own crowd. A single knockout game rewards whichever side turns up sharper on the night rather than whoever has the better squad on paper, which is exactly what gives lower-division clubs a route through against Premier Division opposition. For Waterford, the incentive is straightforward: win and progress toward a later round with the possibility of a bigger draw, lose and the season’s cup interest ends in August. Cup nights at the RSC tend to have a different edge to league fixtures, no league table to fall back on if things go wrong, just the one game.

Getting there

The RSC is at Kilbarry on the northern side of Waterford city, close to the N25, a short drive or taxi ride from the city centre. Local bus services run near the ground, and there is parking around the stadium, worth arriving in good time for a Friday evening cup tie.

While you’re in Waterford

A Friday night cup tie is an easy pairing with dinner in the city beforehand, with Waterford’s restaurants and pubs a short drive from the RSC. There is more to see in Waterford and across Co. Waterford.

Good to know

• Date: Friday, 14 August 2026
• Kick-off: evening time, to be confirmed by the club
• Venue: RSC, Kilbarry, Waterford city
• Competition: Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup, third round
• Format: straight knockout round
• Tickets: see waterfordfc.ie for prices and how to book