Archive for May, 2009
On song Blues ready for trip to Fingal
After their excellent win in the EA Sports Cup quarter final on Tuesday, Waterford United get back to work in the league when they travel to Morton Stadium to take on Sporting Fingal this Friday night (KO 7.45pm), the first of the second series of matches in Division One.
The second trip to the capital in a week for the Blues, after bagging a point in a scoreless draw at UCD last weekend, sees them pitted against a side that sit just two points below them in third place on the table. With the Students facing a tricky away tie at Jackman Park, and 4th placed Shelbourne travelling to 5th placed Wexford Youths on the same night, the incentive for United is rather more than simply defending their current league position. Continue reading »
A few photos from the Rovers quarter final
Blues advance to the last four of the EA Sports Cup
Waterford United 2 - 1 Shamrock Rovers
The Blues celebrate the winning strike
Waterford United tonight pulled off quite an upset as they dumped Shamrock Rovers out of the EA Sports Cup with a well deserved 2-1 victory. In a superb performance, full of grit, determination, and no little skill, the Blues bested their Premier League opponents, who ended the game, at least, with their full team on display.
The visitors started the brighter, helped in no small part by a stiff wind from the county end, but it was the Blues that were first to come close, as what should have been a routine clearance from Barry Murphy cannoned back off Willie John Kiely but just the wrong side of the near post from the home point of view. Clear-cut chances were at a premium early on, but Rovers tested Michael Devine from distance on 25 minutes, Ollie Cahill advancing to unleash a powerful strike from 25 yards that the Blues netminder did well to turn around his right hand post. Six minutes later a Sean O’Connor corner from the right was met by Darragh Maguire in the six yard box, but he was stretching and could only divert it over the bar. Continue reading »
What’s new in the Rovers programme?
Featured in the match programme this week:
Brian Kennedy on one of the great rivalries in the League of Ireland…
Brendan White on why the EA Sports Cup matters…
Ten things you may not have known about Rovers…
And at least some you certainly won’t have!
And all the usual news, views and information!
Read more in Tuesday’s matchday programme!
Munster Senior Cup
Old rivalry rekindled as Hoops visit the RSC
Waterford United are ready to renew old sporting rivalries when they host Shamrock Rovers in the quarter final of the EA Sports Cup at the RSC this Tuesday (KO 7.45pm).
Meetings between the two sides have always been a little bit special, and a wealth of history exists between the teams going back many, many years. Rovers have very much had the upper hand in terms of league titles and FAI Cup victories, but interestingly in the EA Sports Cup (formerly the League Cup), it is the Blues who are slightly ahead, by two Cups to one. Continue reading »
Derek off to Rome for Champions League Final
Michael Aldridge, Owen Tubbritt, Paul O'Neill, Michael Butler, and the winning ticket!
Derek Browne of Shanbally, Cappoquin is celebrating this evening after his ticket was drawn out of the drum in the Waterford United Champions League draw.
Derek and a friend will jet out to Rome for the final at the Stadio Olimpico on May 27th where Manchester United take on Barcelona, bidding to become the first team to successfully defend the Champions League title since the new format was instigated. His prize includes flights, match tickets, and two nights accomodation in the Eternal City. Derek’s winning ticket was pulled out by Michael Aldridge in front of a large group of patrons of Norris’s Bar.
Some pics from the Belfield Bowl
Blues pass UCD examination
UCD 0 – 0 Waterford United
Waterford United came away with a share of the spoils in an entertaining encounter at the Belfield Bowl last night. The clichés will no doubt abound – though none of that here – but it is fair to say that the Blues’ small squad came through their stern test with credit, if not distinction, and glad that the wheels did not come off their season!
It was an intriguing encounter, United probably having the best of the possession, with the Students having the better chances, but both sides seemed of the opinion that a draw was a fair result in the end, albeit the visitors left slightly the happier. Willie John Kiely opened the shooting, volleying over the top from the edge of the area after Kevin Waters had cleverly backheeled it into his path after just five minutes. David Grincell was next up, Waters again setting him up to fire low past the left hand post. David McMillan twice went close for the home side before Kiely had a big penalty shout turned down just short of the half-hour mark, as keeper Gerard Barron seemed to pull him down in the area. Continue reading »
Blues face stern College test
Waterford United face the biggest test of their title credentials so far this season, when they travel to Belfield to take on league-leaders UCD on Friday night (KO 7.45pm).
The Blues are on an exceptional run of form at the moment, having racked up seven straight league wins (nine in all competitions), with 18 goals scored and only two conceded, and they travel to the Belfield Bowl brimming with confidence. Stephen Henderson’s side are facing into a tough few weeks in the run up to the mid-season break, as their next four league games pit them against each of the other teams currently in the top five positions, and with all but the Wexford Youths game away from the RSC, but the squad have impressed their manager with a fantastic attitude, and to a man they are loving every minute of the current campaign. Last week the team showed a lot of maturity to deal with a Kildare County side that came to the RSC resolutely to defend, and the manager was impressed with the patience they showed to eventually overcome the dogged resistance. Continue reading »
