Waterford United  1 - 2  Wexford Youths

Kenny Browne drives forward through a crowded midfield

An oddly out-of-sorts Waterford United went down by the odd goal in three to a fired-up Wexford Youths at the RSC tonight. It was a strangely lacklustre performance from a Blues side who looked sluggish and weary at times, and only really came to life for the last twenty minutes of the game.

A cagey opening period saw little in the way of chances, though David Breen did hit the target with a header from a corner on 13 minutes, and Willie John Kiely glanced one wide a minute later at the other end. On 20 minutes, another exchange of chances, as Graham Cummins broke free into the right channel, and squared low for Kiely, who improvised well to back heel goalwards from six yards, but straight at Packie Holden. Almost immediately at the other end Conor Sinnott had a great chance at the back post from Liam O’Loughlin’s dangerous cross, but Michael Devine spread himself well to make a superb save. Continue reading »

Fans have chance to enjoy FAI Ford Cup games in style this season.

Your team is playing 100 miles away and the supporters’ bus is full?  Big game on at home and you want to bring the kids, but they want their friends to come too and your car just isn’t big enough?

Stop worrying about the logistics – just focus on the footy, with thanks to Ford, proud sponsors of the FAI Cup.

For every round of FAI Ford Cup this year, Ford will come to the rescue of fans around the country, eager to get along to support their club by transporting them to the game of their choice in style. Continue reading »

Featured in the match programme this week:

Brendan White reviews United’s first series of matches…

Interview with a Blues fan makes its long overdue return…

We look at how our newest derby rivalry is shaping up…

And cast an eye on the progress of Wexford’s ex-Blues so far this year…

And all the usual news, views and information!

Read more in Saturday’s matchday programme!

The draw for the semi finals of the 2009 EA SPORTS Cup will be made on Monday, June 1st.

Bohemians, Sligo Rovers, UCD and Waterford United will be entered into the draw, which will be broadcast live on the Monday Night Soccer programme from 8pm on RTE 2.

The semi finals will be played over one leg on either Monday August 3rd or Tuesday August 4th.

Waterford United take on Wexford Youths at the RSC this Saturday (KO 7.00pm) in the unaccustomed role of table toppers.

Last weekend’s awesome 4-1 victory at Sporting Fingal lifted the Blues to the number one spot for the first time in 2009, after UCD could only manage a draw at Jackman Park, and in addition was the ninth game in a wonderful unbeaten League run. The United players showed great character once more to come from an early goal down to demolish what manager Stephen Henderson called before the match “a premier league team in all but name”, and did it just four days after knocking actual premier league opposition, in Shamrock Rovers, out of the EA Sports Cup. Continue reading »

Waterford United have won the April Southeast Sports Personality on the Month award, organised by Beat 102-103 FM in association with the Talbot Hotel, Carlow, and voted on in an online poll on the Beat FM website.

The team and management were nominated on the strength of their four league wins out of four during the month of April, with defeats of Longford Town and Monaghan United at home, and Finn Harps and Limerick away.

They represented the county of Waterford in the voting, up against each of the other counties in the Beat 102-103 broadcast area. The other nominees were Colm Murphy, trainer of Big Zeb, the King’s Crisp Hurdle winner at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday; Thurles CBS, winners of the All-Ireland Colleges Championship; Carlow’s Leona Byrne, who recently rose to 21st in the World Bobsleigh rankings; and the Kilkenny senior hurling team.

Gabrielle Cummins, Chief Executive of Beat 102-103, said: “Everyone at Beat 102-103 would like to extend their congratulations to the entire Waterford United team on winning the ‘Southeast Sports Personality of the Month’ award. It is fantastic to see the team get recognition for their fantastic sporting achievement!”

Waterford United were last out of the hat in tonight’s FAI Ford Cup 3rd round draw, which took place live on Monday Night Soccer on RTE2, but secured home advantage for their tie.

The Blues will face Carrigaline United, conquerors of Cobh Ramblers in the last round, in what is the last 32 of the tournament. No date has been fixed yet, but the tie will take place on the weekend of 12th/14th of June.

The full draw is as follows: Continue reading »

Sporting Fingal  1 - 4  Waterford United

The team celebrate Cummins' goal

Waterford United came from an early goal down to take their hosts apart at Morton Stadium tonight, and even a harsh late red card for Seamus Long couldn’t take the gloss off the night for Stephen Henderson’s men. With as complete a performance as these eyes have witnessed in many years, United ran riot against a side packed with big-name players, in a game that was packed with incident.

The Blues were caught napping before a minute had elapsed, as Colm James took a quick free kick in midfield, feeding Conan Byrne wide on the right, and his low cross was turned back high inside the near post from close range by the lurking Eamon Zayed, with the Blues keeper and central defence passive. Two minutes later Zayed had another real chance, a free header from John Frost’s cross from deep, but he made much less of it than he might have. Continue reading »

At half-time in the Shamrock Rovers match last Tuesday, Derek Browne, of Shanbally, Cappoquin, winner of our recent Champions League draw, was presented with his fabulous prize. Derek and a friend are off to Rome next week, flying from Dublin to the Eternal City for two nights, with tickets to the showpiece final between Manchester United and Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico. Derek is heavily involved with the Railway Athletic football club in Cappoquin, and is the son of former Blues coach Tom Browne.

Presenting the lucky winner (second from left) with his itinerary and match tickets on the night were Sam White, Tom Flynn and Ray Scott of Waterford United.