Athlone Town  1 - 2  Waterford United

Waterford United defied the odds to record a superb victory over Athlone Town at Lissywoollen last night. Down to nine men before half an hour had passed, they made light of the disadvantage, scoring twice to earn all three points, and give themselves a massive boost for the title run-in.

 The opening exchanges were cagey, as the unchanged Blues and the home side sounded each other out. Two good chances came and went for the visitors either side of the ten minute mark, first as Kevin Murray strode unopposed through midfield, finding Graham Cummins who fed Willie John Kiely wide on the left, his shot curling over the top. Cummins was the set-up man moments later, doing well to get to the left endline and crossing deep for Stephen Grant coming in around the back, but the shot was again high of the mark. Athlone came close on 14 minutes, when an attack down the left was cleared only as far as Mark Salmon in the centre. Salmon, one of the home side’s more potent threats on the night, brought the ball forward, rode a rash challenge, and shot just wide of the top near corner.

United’s night looked to have taken a real turn for the worse in a six minute spell midway through the half. First Cummins was sent to the line for something which none of those in the press box could identify, and then Kenny Browne saw red, which looked to have ended any thoughts of even a point from the night. Browne’s challenge on Robbie Benson was hard but fair, and perfectly timed. It could not be determined from our vantage point what took place afterwards, but there was no reaction from the Athlone players.

Nevertheless the Blues had a real chance to open the scoring on 32 minutes, Vinny Sullivan getting up to reach a deep John Kearney cross, but failing to direct the header on target. It looked to have been a real waste of what was going to be a rare chance, and when, on the stroke of half time, Franco Georgescu missed a flashed cross by inches after a great Athlone move down the right, it seemed like it was going to be a long second half for the away side.

Moments turn games, and after having two in the first half that looked to have swung things against United, the second half opened with the first of several which began to give hope to the travelling support, when Tom O’Halloran burst clear into the left side of the area, only to be dispossessed by a last ditch tackle from Sullivan, who’d tracked him all the way from the half-way line. It was a very visible sign of just how much effort the nine men in blue were willing to put in to salvage something from the night. On 53 minutes it suddenly began to look as if there might well be something there to salvage, as the Blues had a real slice of luck. An angled ball in from the left eluded Kearney and found substitute Noel McGee 12 yards out. His low shot beat Michael Devine, but Alan Carey stuck out a toe to deflect the ball up onto the underside of the crossbar, Seamus Long completing the clearance over the Lissywoollen stand.

As the half wore on it was the Blues who began to look more likely, with Kiely beginning to ask the home defence some searching questions. Carey was desperately unlucky to see his 71st minute free kick whistle inches wide of the far post, but two minutes later United took an unlikely but deserved lead. Carey it was with the inswinging corner, Kevin Murray did brilliantly to head it back across goal, and there was Sullivan, diving in bravely to head home from three yards out.

On 82 minutes Sullivan almost doubled his tally, reacting superbly to intercept a careless sideways pass across the Athlone backline, and driving goalwards, only for the bobbling ball to give Des Hope time to get in an excellent blocking tackle. Hope went from hero to villain in moments, however, as he pulled Murray over in the area from the resultant corner, allowing Carey to step up and slot the penalty home into the bottom left corner to astonishingly make it 2-0.

McGee did pull one back for the home side with two minutes remaining, a fine finish, fired home low from 15 yards out, and the Blues had to ride out four minutes of added time lined up with two banks of four, but when the whistle finally went it signalled a hugely deserved victory, and an immense performance from the remaining Blues players, who all stepped up to the plate to cover for their absent comrades. Will they look back in months to come at a turning point in the season? Who knows. They’ve certainly shown once again that they’re prepared to spare no effort to achieve success for their manager and club this season.

Athlone Town: Barry Andrews, Dave Tyrell, Niall O’Reilly, Mark Salmon, Des Hope, Anthony Hayes (Stephen Relihan 79), Tom O’Halloran (David O’Connor 56), Franco Georgescu, Stephen Place, Robbie Benson, Gary Murphy (Noel McGee 45) - subs: Kevin Dunne, John McGuinness

Goals: McGee 88

Booked: O’Reilly, Place

Waterford United: Michael Devine; Alan Carey, Kevin Murray, Kenny Browne, Seamus Long; Stephen Grant, Dave Warren (Kevin Waters 81), John Kearney; Vinny Sullivan, Graham Cummins, Willie John Kiely – subs: Kieran Fitzgerald, Joe Mulcahy, Gary Dunphy, Paul Walsh

Goals: Sullivan 73, Carey 85 (pen)

Booked: Murray

Sent off: Cummins 21, Browne 27

Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin)

After their midweek heroics at Richmond Park on Tuesday night, Waterford United return to league action when they travel to Lissywoollen to take on Athlone Town this Saturday (KO 7.45pm).
 
The Blues put in a fantastic performance against St Pat’s, outplaying their opponents in all areas of the pitch, and it was just the result to kickstart their title challenge after a bit of a flat spell of late. Manager Stephen Henderson was ecstatic with his team’s display, and though he is well aware that nothing has been won at this stage of the season, he also knows that maintaining that level is key to making the season a success, with promotion the obvious top priority. The Blues have set a great standard in Cup competitions this year, but Henderson is looking for his side to now take that standard and apply it to their remaining league matches, starting with Athlone on Saturday.
 
Waterford have had the upper hand in their two encounters so far this season, but there has been just a goal in it on both occasions, and, of course, there was the series of four draws between the sides last year, all of which suggests it will be a more difficult task for the Blues than might be expected. Tuesday’s win is United’s first in five outings, but the team will look to put those previous four results out of their mind, and build from that most recent victory. Athlone, for their part, will be looking to bounce back after a 6-1 mauling at the hands of Limerick last weekend. There’s no doubt that they are on a poor run at present, and have not won a match in twelve games since June, and not one at home since mid-April, their only home win of the campaign in fact. Waterford, by contrast, have lost just once on the road all year, but they did have to come from behind with two late goals to claim all the points at Lissywoollen at the end of March.
 
Apart from their two long-term casualties Paul McCarthy and David Grincell, the Blues have no injuries and no suspensions to be concerned with. Right-sided midfielder Paul Walsh returns to contention having been Cup-tied for the last two matches.
 
 
Henderson Quotes:
On the Cup quarter final:
“I thought we were fantastic tonight. We learned from our mistakes last Saturday, we never dropped off, we stayed further up the pitch. I don’t think they created many chances in the second half.”
“I have to take my hat off to Michael Devine, one of those saves from the free kick was really top class.”
On Alan Carey’s goal: “We were working on that in training! In fairness to Alan, he has a great delivery of a ball.”
“To a man we were magnificent. I think Willie [John Kiely] epitomised it, but Vinny [Sullivan] was also excellent for us on the other side, Graham Cummins – typical performance, and our midfield was immense.”
“In fairness it [the Kiely goal] was great work by Graham, great passage of play from us, we kept the ball on the ground a lot tonight.”
“We’re just over the moon we’re into a semi final. We’ve been doing well in the Cups but we haven’t won anything of real significance yet.”
 
On the league challenge:
“We’re not under any illusions, but what the players have done tonight is set a standard.”
“If we can carry that standard into the First Division we can go on another eight or nine match unbeaten run, which is probably what we’ll have to do to actually win the division, because we haven’t taken our mind off winning this thing.”
“They’re the standards the boys have set, but Athlone is our priority at the moment, we’ve to take care of Athlone first.”
 

Suspensions:
none
 

Injury Update:
Paul McCarthy (groin operation – out for remainder of season)
David Grincell (broken wrist – 6 weeks to end of season)
 

Top Scorers (League):
17 -   Graham Cummins
11 -   Willie John Kiely
2 -     Gary Dunphy
         Kenny Browne
         David Grincell
1 -     Paul McCarthy
         Joe Mulcahy
         Kevin Waters
         Kevin Murray
         Alan Carey
         Own goal
 

Top Scorers (All Competitive):
23 -   Graham Cummins (17 League, 3 FAI Ford Cup, 3 EA Sports Cup)
17 -   Willie John Kiely (11 League, 4 FAI Ford Cup, 2 EA Sports Cup)
6 -     David Grincell (2 League, 1 FAI Ford Cup, 3 MSC)
3 -     Gary Dunphy (2 League, 1 MSC)
         Joe Mulcahy (1 League, 1 FAI Ford Cup, 1 MSC)
         Kenny Browne (2 League, 1 EA Sports Cup)
         Kevin Waters (1 League, 1 FAI Ford Cup, 1 EA Sports Cup)
2 -     John Kearney (1 MSC, 1 EA Sports Cup)
         Alan Carey (1 League, 1 FAI Ford Cup)
1 -     Paul McCarthy (1 League)
         Kevin Murray (1 League)
         Own goal (1 League)
 

Form:
League: DWLWW WWWWW DWLLW WDWWW WLDD
All: WDWLW WWWWW WWWDW WLWLW WWLDW WWWWD WLDDD W
 

Last Match:    St Patrick’s Athletic 0 – Waterford United 2 (A Carey 24, Kiely 39)
 

Previous Meetings:
19 Jun 09       L      Waterford United   v   Athlone Town       1 – 1
29 Mar 09       L      Athlone Town   v   Waterford United       1 – 2
03 Oct 08       L      Waterford United   v   Athlone Town       0 – 0
29 Jul 08        L      Athlone Town   v   Waterford United       1 – 1
20 May 08      L      Waterford United   v   Athlone Town       1 – 1
21 Mar 08       L      Athlone Town   v   Waterford United       0 – 0
 

Results This Season:
15 Sep 09          a            St Patrick’s Athletic (FAIFC)        2-0       W
12 Sep 09          h            St Patrick’s Athletic (FAIFC)    1-1       D
04 Sep 09          a            Wexford Youths (LOIFD)         0-0       D
29 Aug 09          h            Sporting Fingal (LOIFD)          0-0       D
22 Aug 09          h            UCD (LOIFD)                           0-1       L
18 Aug 09          h            Crumlin United (FAIFC)           2-0      W
14 Aug 09          a            Crumlin United (FAIFC)           0-0       D
08 Aug 09          a            Kkildare County (LOIFD)         2-0       W
04 Aug 09          a            UCD (EASC)                           3-1       W
01 Aug 09          a            Mervue United (LOIFD)          2-0       W
28 Jul 09            h            Finn Harps (LOIFD)               4-0       W
25 Jul 09            h            Limerick FC (LOIFD)              2-1       W
19 Jul 09            a            Monaghan United (LOIFD)      0-0       D
17 Jul 09            h            Ipswich Town (Friendly)        0-3       L
11 Jul 09            h            Finn Harps (LOIFD)               p-p       postponed
05 Jul 09            a            Longford Town (LOIFD)         3-1       W
19 Jun 09           h            Athlone Town (LOIFD)           2-1       W
13 Jun 09           h            Carrigaline United (FAIFC)      6-0       W  
05 Jun 09           a            Shelbourne (LOIFD)               0-1       L
02 Jun 09           n            Rockmount (MSC)                 2-1      W
30 May 09          h            Wexford Youths (LOIFD)        1-2       L
22 May 09          a            Sporting Fingal (LOIFD)         4-1       W
19 May 09          h            Shamrock Rovers (EASC)       2-1       W
15 May 09          a            UCD (LOIFD)                          0-0       D
09 May 09          h            Kildare County (LOIFD)         2-0       W
04 May 09          a            FC Carlow (EASC)                3-1       W
02 May 09          h            Mervue United (LOIFD)         2-0       W
24 Apr 09           a            Limerick FC (LOIFD)             2-0       W
22 Apr 09           a            Clonmel Town (MSC)            2-1       W
18 Apr 09           h            Monaghan United (LOIFD)     6-0       W
11 Apr 09           a            Finn Harps (LOIFD)              3-1       W
04 Apr 09           h            Longford Town (LOIFD)        1-0        W
29 Mar 09           a            Athlone Town (LOIFD)          2-1       W
20 Mar 09           h            Shelbourne (LOIFD)             0-1        L
13 Mar 09           a            Wexford Youths (LOIFD)       1-0       W
07 Mar 09           h            Sporting Fingal (LOIFD)        1-1        D
28 Feb 09           h            Douglas Hall (MSC)              2-0       W
20 Feb 09           a            Mayfield United (Fr)             4-1       W
13 Feb 09           h            Junior League XI (Fr)           3-0       W
07 Feb 09           a            Cork City (Fr)                        1-0       W
 

Next 5 Matches:
26 Sep 09           h           Bohemians (EASC)
29 Sep 09           h           Longford Town (LOIFD)
03 Oct 09           a           Finn Harps (LOIFD)
09 Oct 09           h          Monaghan United (LOIFD)
16 Oct 09           a           Limerick FC (LOIFD)
 
 
Betting:
Athlone: 4/1
Waterford: 8/13
Draw: 12/5

Tickets for the EA Sports Cup final at the RSC on Saturday, September 26th (KO 5.30pm) are now on sale, from John Ryan’s shop on Patrick Street in the city, and from the club office under the new stand at the RSC.

The tickets are priced at €20 for adults, and €10 for kids and concessions, but please be aware that there are a limited number of concessionary tickets available.

It is important to note also that this is not a Waterford United run event, so certain aspects of the night will be different to normal. The Blues have, in actual fact, been designated the away team for the match, and, initially at least, have been allocated the old (East) stand only for United fans.

Factoring in commitments to organisers and sponsors, this means that not much more than 900-odd tickets will be available to Blues fans initially, so please be quick to ensure that you secure yours! Bohemians have been allocated the new (West) stand, but it is not expected that they will come close to selling that out, so there may well be one or two blocks of that stand available to local fans closer to the time of the match, details will appear here and in the local media when more is known.

Because it is an FAI run event, in a similar fashion to the Ireland U-21 match earlier in the year please note also that the car park WILL NOT BE OPEN to ticket holders on the night, only officials and various nominated personnel will be allowed to park inside the ground.

Note also that separate gates will be in operation on the night. Those with tickets to the old stand must enter the ground at the Cork road side, those (currently just Bohemians fans) with tickets to the new stand can only enter through the new turnstiles opposite PC World.

St Patrick’s Athletic  0 - 2  Waterford United

Waterford United are through to the semi final of the FAI Ford Cup after an immense performance at Richmond Park saw them totally negate their more illustrious opponents St Patrick’s Athletic. The unfancied Blues made light of the bookies’ predictions, as they out-played, and out-worked, the home side, putting in a superb, controlled display to deservedly book their place in the last four.

A lively start to the game saw both sides go looking for an early opener. Indeed, the Blues set their stall out from before the off, with an attacking 4-3-3 line-up. Vinny Sullivan started in place of Kevin Waters, with Dave Warren getting the nod ahead of Joe Mulcahy in the midfield three. And it was Waterford who posted the first chance of note, Willie John Kiely almost capitalising on a Jason Gavin error, but firing inches wide of Gary Rogers’ left post eight minutes in. St Pat’s responded well, and when, on the quarter hour, Kenny Browne barged into Ryan Guy 25 yards out, Alan Cawley sent the resulting free kick goalwards, Michael Devine having to fling himself to his right to turn it around the post.

The opening goal came on 24 minutes. Alan Carey doesn’t score too often, but when he does they are usually worth waiting for, and this one was no exception. As the Blues attack built up down the right, the home defence backed off Carey, giving him time to spot Rogers well off his line, and fire in a superb effort over the keeper’s head and into the back of the net. The visitors kept up the pressure as the half hour mark came and went, first Graham Cummins almost getting in 1-on-1 against Rogers, and then Sullivan briefly looking to have doubled the lead only for a deflection to take his effort wide.

The home side thought they had equalised ten minutes from the break, when a harsh looking foul given against Seamus Long gave Cawley another chance from the dead ball. Again he forced a superb save from Devine, diving full left to his left to punch away, with some of the Pat’s players claiming the ball had crossed the line. It got worse for the Dubliners within moments, as the two Blues front men combined superbly to extend the lead. A fine Kiely pass found Cummins on the left side of the penalty area, and he controlled brilliantly and turned to fire in a powerful shot that Rogers could only parry. Kiely, following up, was on hand to gleefully slot home.

The Saints made a major, and surprising, change after the break, with semi-fit centre back Jamie Harris coming on for Cawley, the home side’s major goal threat of the first half. Stuart Byrne, who had had a torrid time from Cummins at the heart of the Pat’s defence, moved into midfield as the Dubliners moved to an attacking 4-5-1. It almost paid dividends early on, when a clever quick free kick from Dempsey caught the Waterford back line asleep, and Glen Fitzpatrick found himself in acres of space. Caught by surprise himself, perhaps, he somehow contrived to blaze wildly wide from point blank range.

The Blues were coping well as the home side pushed hard to get one back, and at the other end they had a chance of their own when Harris lost control and almost set up Cummins, but his shot was deflected behind to safety. Harris’ introduction had been a gamble, and moments later that gamble backfired as he succumbed to his hamstring injury and had to make way himself after only 19 minutes.

As the half wore on the Blues were looking equal to anything that the home side could throw at them, as they worked tirelessly to deny the Saints time to put together any constructive football. Kiely and Sullivan, in particular, were covering every blade of grass in United’s cause, and the Dubliners began to look more and more disjointed and frustrated, a frustration visibly shared by manager Jeff Kenna on the touchline.

A quick breakaway four minutes from time threatened to kill the game off altogether, as Stephen Grant broke clear and fed Cummins, who found John Kearney in the area, the home defence rallying enough to clear off his toe. At the other end Stuart Byrne blazed wildly over from distance, his reaction summing up the second half for the home side, a half where they threatened just once, Fitzpatrick’s chance in the opening minutes. Pats’ first corner of the second half came and went in injury time, the final act of a superb match. If not before, then certainly after this United will fancy their chances against any name that comes out of the draw drum, but is it too much to ask for another home draw?

St Patrick’s Athletic: Gary Rogers; Damien Lynch, Jason Gavin, Stuart Byrne, Enda Stevens; Darragh Ryan, Alan Cawley (Jamie Harris 45 (Stephen Maher 64)), Gary Dempsey, Bobby Ryan; Ryan Guy, Glen Fitzpatrick (Mark Leech 61) - subs not used: Brendan Clarke, Noel Haverty, Gints Freimanis, Andy Haran

Booked: Byrne, D Ryan, Stevens

Waterford United: Michael Devine; Alan Carey, Kevin Murray, Kenny Browne, Seamus Long; Dave Warren (Kevin Waters 83), Stephen Grant, John Kearney; Vinny Sullivan, Graham Cummins, Willie John Kiely (Joe Mulcahy 80) - subs not used: Kevin Burns, Declan Woodgate, Kieran Fitzgerald, Gary Dunphy, Paul Carey

Goals: Carey 24, Kiely 39

Booked: Warren

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)

Waterford United and St Patrick’s Athletic will have to do it all again at Richmond Park on Tuesday night (KO 7.45pm) when they meet in their FAI Ford Cup quarter final replay.
 
A lively and entertaining encounter at the RSC last Saturday night ended with a goal apiece, a fair result in a match when the sides took a half apiece also. The Blues went into the break probably thinking they could have been further ahead than Willie John Kiely’s cracking goal, but their Premier Division opponents came flying out of the traps in the second half, grabbing the equaliser through former United player Gary Dempsey.
 
The Saints looked to be the happier with the result in the dying minutes, and indeed after the final whistle blew, and there’s no doubt that they are most peoples’ favourites to progress now, as they take the tie back to their Inchicore Ground. United will have no fears about making the trip to the capital, however. They’ve already travelled to Richmond Park in the previous round of this season’s Cup, when they drew 0-0 with Crumlin United, and they will also look to their 3-1 win over UCD at the Belfield Bowl at the semi-final stage of the EA Sports Cup.
 
The tie will have to be decided on the night, with extra time and penalties if need be. It’s worth noting that the Blues have a good record in shootouts, having won all three they have been involved in in this competition, at UCD in 2001, against Limerick in 2003, and at Sligo Rovers in 2007. Waterford have no suspensions to worry about, and no new injuries, so it should be a similar squad that travels on Tuesday. Paul Walsh remains cup-tied having played an earlier round with Limerick.
 

Suspensions:
none
 

Injury Update:
Paul McCarthy (groin operation – out for remainder of season)
David Grincell (broken wrist – 8 weeks to end of season)
 

Top Scorers (League):
17 -   Graham Cummins
11 -   Willie John Kiely
2 -     Gary Dunphy
         Kenny Browne
         David Grincell
1 -     Paul McCarthy
         Joe Mulcahy
         Kevin Waters
         Kevin Murray
         Alan Carey
         Own goal
 

Top Scorers (All Competitive):
23 -   Graham Cummins (17 League, 3 FAI Ford Cup, 3 EA Sports Cup)
16 -   Willie John Kiely (11 League, 3 FAI Ford Cup, 2 EA Sports Cup)
6 -     David Grincell (2 League, 1 FAI Ford Cup, 3 MSC)
3 -     Gary Dunphy (2 League, 1 MSC)
         Joe Mulcahy (1 League, 1 FAI Ford Cup, 1 MSC)
         Kenny Browne (2 League, 1 EA Sports Cup)
         Kevin Waters (1 League, 1 FAI Ford Cup, 1 EA Sports Cup)
2 -     John Kearney (1 MSC, 1 EA Sports Cup)
1 -     Paul McCarthy (1 League)
         Kevin Murray (1 League)
         Alan Carey (1 League)
         Own goal (1 League)
 

Form:
League: DWLWW WWWWW DWLLW WDWWW WLDD
All: WDWLW WWWWW WWWDW WLWLW WWLDW WWWWD WLDDD
 

Last Match:    Waterford United 1 (Kiely 17) – St Patrick’s Athletic 1 (Dempsey 70)
 

Previous Meetings:
12 Sep 09    C     Waterford United   v   St Patrick’s Athletic         1 – 1
31 Aug 07    L      St Patrick’s Athletic   v   Waterford United         4 – 1
06 Jul 07     L      Waterford United   v   St Patrick’s Athletic         2 – 1
16 Mar 07    L      St Patrick’s Athletic   v   Waterford United         3 – 0
01 Sep 06    L      St Patrick’s Athletic   v   Waterford United         0 – 1
02 Jun 06    L      Waterford United   v   St Patrick’s Athletic         1 – 3
10 Mar 06    L      St Patrick’s Athletic   v   Waterford United         0 – 0
 

Results This Season:
12 Sep 09          h            St Patrick’s Athletic (FAIFC)    1-1       D
04 Sep 09          a            Wexford Youths (LOIFD)         0-0       D
29 Aug 09          h            Sporting Fingal (LOIFD)          0-0       D
22 Aug 09          h            UCD (LOIFD)                        0-1       L
18 Aug 09          h            Crumlin United (FAIFC)           2-0      W
14 Aug 09          a            Crumlin United (FAIFC)           0-0       D
08 Aug 09          a            Kkildare County (LOIFD)         2-0       W
04 Aug 09          a            UCD (EASC)                        3-1       W
01 Aug 09          a            Mervue United (LOIFD)          2-0       W
28 Jul 09            h            Finn Harps (LOIFD)               4-0       W
25 Jul 09            h            Limerick FC (LOIFD)              2-1       W
19 Jul 09            a            Monaghan United (LOIFD)      0-0       D
17 Jul 09            h            Ipswich Town (Friendly)        0-3       L
11 Jul 09            h            Finn Harps (LOIFD)               p-p       postponed
05 Jul 09            a            Longford Town (LOIFD)         3-1       W
19 Jun 09           h            Athlone Town (LOIFD)           2-1       W
13 Jun 09           h            Carrigaline United (FAIFC)      6-0       W  
05 Jun 09           a            Shelbourne (LOIFD)               0-1       L
02 Jun 09           n            Rockmount (MSC)                 2-1      W
30 May 09          h            Wexford Youths (LOIFD)        1-2       L
22 May 09          a            Sporting Fingal (LOIFD)         4-1       W
19 May 09          h            Shamrock Rovers (EASC)       2-1       W
15 May 09          a            UCD (LOIFD)                       0-0       D
09 May 09          h            Kildare County (LOIFD)         2-0       W
04 May 09          a            FC Carlow (EASC)                3-1       W
02 May 09          h            Mervue United (LOIFD)         2-0       W
24 Apr 09           a            Limerick FC (LOIFD)             2-0       W
22 Apr 09           a            Clonmel Town (MSC)            2-1       W
18 Apr 09           h            Monaghan United (LOIFD)     6-0       W
11 Apr 09           a            Finn Harps (LOIFD)              3-1       W
04 Apr 09           h            Longford Town (LOIFD)        1-0        W
29 Mar 09           a            Athlone Town (LOIFD)          2-1       W
20 Mar 09           h            Shelbourne (LOIFD)             0-1        L
13 Mar 09           a            Wexford Youths (LOIFD)       1-0       W
07 Mar 09           h            Sporting Fingal (LOIFD)        1-1        D
28 Feb 09           h            Douglas Hall (MSC)              2-0       W
20 Feb 09           a            Mayfield United (Fr)             4-1       W
13 Feb 09           h            Junior League XI (Fr)           3-0       W
07 Feb 09           a            Cork City (Fr)                     1-0       W
 

Next 5 Matches:
19 Sep 09           a           Athlone Town (LOIFD)
26 Sep 09           h           Bohemians (EASC)
29 Sep 09           h           Longford Town (LOIFD)
03 Oct 09           a           Finn Harps (LOIFD)
09 Ocy 09           h          Monaghan United (LOIFD)
 
 
Betting:
St Pats: 1/2
Waterford: 11/2
Draw: 12/5

(L-R) In Safe Hands with Waterford United Captain Michael Devine are organisers Katherine Cahill, Lisa Duggan and Ashley Doyle

Waterford United’s footballing stars are swapping playing kit for fashion kit as they will headline the Waterford United Fashion Show that takes place at the Tower Hotel Waterford on Wednesday September 23rd.

And they will be donning the best that Waterford fashion has to offer and joining the glamorous girls from the Prima Model Agency on the catwalk in what will be the ultimate girls’ night out! This will definitely be a night of glitz and glamour as the Blues combine with the best of Waterford’s fashion retailers to bring all the best in local talent.

Featuring local fashion outlets including Benetton, Tommy Hilfiger, Orchid, Ahvage Lingerie, 5th Avenue, Red Lane as well as Gregory’s Clothes for Men, there is bound to be something for everyone!

Admission is by ticket only which cost just €20 and includes a cheese and wine reception before the main event.

Organised by Prima Model Agency, there will also be a styling session with RSVP Style Awards nominee Katherine Cahill as well as plenty of spot prizes.

Tickets are available from all the participating outlets as well as the usual Waterford United sources.

Waterford United  1 - 1  St Patrick’s Athletic

Waterford United were tonight held to a 1-1 draw by St Patrick’s Athletic in the FAI Ford Cup quarter final, in a game where they had a real chance to progress to the semis. Taking the lead early in the first half, the Blues were the better side up until half time, and possibly again towards the end of the match, but a twenty minute spell after the break where the Saints got themselves on top in the game culminated in Gary Dempsey firing home the equaliser through a crowd of players.

The Blues had an early scare when a perceptive Dempsey through ball split the defence, but found Glen Fitzpatrick in an offside position. The flag was up long before the striker applied the neat finish. At the other end, Graham Cummins found Stephen Grant with a deft flicked header, and as the midfielder drove into the area, the ball was blocked out to Alan Carey, whose cross just eluded everyone in the box. On 13 minutes Willie John Kiely almost profited as a high ball in from Kevin Waters bounced unchecked in the area. The striker managed to prod over the advancing Pat’s goalkeeper Gary Rogers, but unfortunately for United also just over the crossbar. He was not going to have to wait long however.

Just four minutes later Kiely got on the end of a superb Seamus Long ball down the left channel, and he held it up well for Grant, advancing through the middle. Grant spurned the chance to strike first time, but he managed to hold the ball under severe pressure, and scrambled it back out to the left, where Kiely drove it to the top left corner with some aplomb from 15 yards out. On 26 minutes the Blues had a warning when Ryan Guy neatly turned Long and fired just wide of the right hand post from the edge of the box, and they had another almost immediately through Alan Cawley, who clipped the top of the crossbar with a freekick after Bobby Ryan had been felled 20 yards out.

The home side responded well, and on  35 minutes Kiely neatly controlled a Cummins flick and fired in a volley on the run, but straight at Rogers. Two minutes later another fine Carey cross found Waters at the back post, but his header was superbly held by the Pat’s keeper. The Saints posted the last chance of the half when Guy found Dempsey well, and the former Blue fired low across goal but wide of the left post, with Michael Devine looking to have it well covered.

Into the second half and Devine was called into action twice early on, first diving to his right to hold Gary Dempsey’s superb header from Stephen Maher’s cross, then throwing himself full length to his left to block Damien Lynch’s long range drive after an attack had been half-cleared. Some effective catches and punches were required from the Blues netminder during the early spell as Pat’s came out of the traps at full tilt.

United seemed to have weathered the early storm, but worryingly they were not nearly as effective in midfield as they had been, and the visitors were getting themselves on top in the match. They were nearly gifted a way back on 65 minutes, when Carey fluffed a short pass allowing Guy to hare in on goal. Kenny Browne got back superbly to take command and play it back to Devine, but the Blues keeper surprised everyone by passing the ball straight back out to Guy, who luckily was wide enough that his attempted lob hit the side netting.

Three minutes later, at the other end, Cummins made a great surging run into the Pat’s area, only for his shot to take a slight touch up and over the crossbar, and the Blues were made to rue that missed chance on 70 minutes. As the Saints attacked in their turn, a ball into Mark Leech on the penalty spot was not dealt with: three chances to clear eventually saw it hacked only as far as Dempsey, twelve yards out on the left, who fired low to the bottom corner of the net.

Both sides pushed on in search of the winner, but there were to be no more clear cut chances, although Cummins did manage a clean header across the area when he might have been better served going for goal. On the stroke of normal time Waterford got a free kick in a promising position, but Carey fired it straight at Rogers, and that was that. In truth, the draw was the fairest result on the night, as each side could lay claim to one of the two very different halves. The replay, that really neither side could have done with, will be at Richmond Park on Tuesday next, September 15th, at 7.45pm, and the Shelbourne league match is again banished to limbo until further notice.

Waterford United: Michael Devine; Alan Carey, Kenny Browne, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long; Joe Mulcahy (Dave Warren 68), John Kearney, Stephen Grant, Kevin Waters; Willie John Kiely (Vinny Sullivan 78), Graham Cummins – subs: Kevin Burns, Declan Woodgate, Kieran Fitzgerald, Gary Dunphy, Paul Carey

Goals: Kiely 17

Booked: Devine

St Patrick’s Athletic: Gary Rogers; Damien Lynch, Jason Gavin, Stuart Byrne, Enda Stephens; Stephen Maher (Darragh Ryan 65), Alan Cawley, Gary Dempsey, Bobby Ryan; Ryan Guy, Glen Fitzpatrick (Mark Leech 57) - subs: Brendan Clarke, Noel Haverty, Gints Freimanis, Andy Haran, Kyle Moran

Goals: Dempsey 70

Booked: Lynch, Gavin

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)

Waterford United have a new fan at the RSC!

The Blue Man has just taken up residence inside the ground, and will remain on station there in the run-up to the EA Sports Cup final.

A striking presence: tall, straight limbed, with a steely glint in his eye – all over in fact – the mysterious stranger will spend the coming weeks lending his support, and spreading the word, from his lofty perch above the RSC roundabout.

Thanks to Clem Jacob Hire for bringing him out to the ground and sorting him out with somewhere to stand for the duration of his stay!