Salthill Devon  0 - 1  Waterford United

Waterford United made it four wins out of four in the Airtricity League First Division championship with a gritty single goal victory over a determined Salthill Devon side at a bleak and windswept Drom Soccer Park last night, the first ever encounter between the sides.

Salthill, missing a number of first choice players, made it extremely diffficult for the Blues from the off, a situation not helped by the biting wind, whipping in off Galway Bay across the fantastically appointed facility, of which the hosts should be justly proud. United had to work very hard for their win, and they saw the result out very professionally, coping with aplomb as they were forced to play a man down in the closing stages.

The Blues made several changes to last week’s starting XI, as Seamus Long returned to the back four for John Hayes, David Grincell started up front in place of Willie John Kiely, Timmy Purcell got the nod ahead of Gareth Cambridge on the right, and James O’Sullivan took a midfield berth as Paul McCarthy’s troublesome ankle was rested. A scrappy opening 45 saw little in the way of chances. The home side had a couple of early wind-assisted balls over the top dealt with comfortably by Chris Konopka, though he was to be rather more discomfitted just after half an hour, when John McGrath’s free kick from exactly on half-way carried and carried and slammed into the top of the crossbar with the ‘keeper backpedalling furiously.

At the other end Kevin Murray’s towering back post header from an Alan Carey corner forced a decent save from Ronan Forde in the home goal on the quarter hour, and the youngster had his defence to thank for a timely close-range block on 28 minutes. Vinny Sullivan did well to get hold of the ball in the box, dinking a cross to the far post where Liam Kearney’s attempted volley was cheekily backheeled goalwards by Grincell. On 34 minutes Grincell went closer still. Played in neatly over the top by Carey, his low shot was well saved by the legs of Forde. After a foul from the breakdown, Forde was alert once more to touch Carey’s free kick over the top. The youngster could do little, however, to prevent the increasingly inevitable opener when it arrived on 41 minutes. Good work from Gary Dunphy in the middle of midfield saw him feed Purcell out wide on the right, and his cross found Sullivan six yards out, sidefooting home unmarked at the back post.

With the deadlock broken, United came back after the break looking to wrap up the three points, and within five minutes a wonderful chance to do just that fell to David Grincell, steaming in at pace onto Timmy Purcell’s whipped centre across the six yard box, only to slip over at the worst moment with the goal at his mercy. It was desperate luck for the young striker, but a let off for the home side, and one they seemed to take heart from, as they began to cause problems for the visitors. A series of corner kicks pegged sub keeper Kevin Burns and the Blues defence back into their area, and Daryl Horgan and John McGrath both threatened with well struck long-range efforts, Horgan’s flying just inches over on 51 minutes.

As the half wore on though, United again began to carve out chances. On 75 minutes Willie John Kiely saw his 12-yard snap shot well saved by Ronan Forde after Kevin Murray had knocked down a corner at the back post, and moments later Alan Carey’s inswinging free kick was almost touched home at the near post by Seamus Long, but again the impressive young ‘keeper was on top form, keeping his eye on the ball the whole way. On 81 minutes came the moment which might have proved a turning point in the game, but to United’s great credit wasn’t allowed to be. Liam Kearney, streaking into the area down the right channel, had his legs scythed from under him by Sean Boyle, arriving at pace with a last ditch slide, but rather than the expected penalty, the winger was shocked to see the referee brandish a second yellow card for a percieved dive, and the Blues were down to ten.

It was a cruel blow to the visitors, as video replays soon confirmed, but they re-organised well around the loss, using all their experience to see out the last ten minutes with relative ease. Carey, Purcell and Vinny Sullivan, in particular, ran down the clock in the right corner in a very savvy fashion, frustrating the home side’s attempts to get the ball forward quickly and exploit the numerical advantage. At the full time whistle it was a well deserved - and hard-earned - win for a United side that is looking very strong at the moment.

Salthill: Ronan Forde, Paddy Quinlan (Enda Dunne 85), John McGrath, Brian Geraghty, James Whelan, Luke McConnell (Sean Boyle 78), David Shovlin, Conor Hoctor, Damien O’Reilly, Mike Kennedy (Marcin Marienek 72), Daryl Horgan – subs: Marty Mannion, Shane Stenson

Booked: O’Reilly, Hoctor, McGrath

Waterford: Chris Konopka (Kevin Burns 45); Alan Carey, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, John Kearney; Timmy Purcell, Gary Dunphy, James O’Sullivan (John Hayes 72), Liam Kearney; Vinny Sullivan, David Grincell (Willie John Kiely 72) - subs: Paul Carey, Gareth Cambridge

Goals: Sullivan 41

Booked: O’Sullivan, L Kearney, Dunphy

Sent Off: L Kearney

Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare)

Waterford United’s opening game in this season’s EA Sports Cup will take place on Monday April 12th. The game against the Kerry League will take place at Mounthawk Park in Tralee with a kick off of 7.30pm.

In the event of the score being level after 90 minutes of play, 30 minutes of extra time shall be played. If the score is still level, then a penalty shoot-out will take place to decide the outcome of the tie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Team Bulletin
Salthill Devon v Waterford United at Drom Soccer Park
Saturday, March 27th, 2010 (KO 7.00pm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 


Match Preview: 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waterford United make the first of their back-to-back trips to Galway on Saturday when they travel to Drom to take on Salthill Devon for the first time ever (KO 7.00pm).

The Blues have won the first three games of the new campaign in impressive fashion, scoring six times and with their own goal so far intact. Salthill, for their part, have had a torrid start to life in the league, with an opening record the mirror image of United’s, three defeats, with none for, and six against. Blues boss Stephen Henderson has been quick to warn against complacency, however, regarding United’s good start and their opponent’s difficult one.
 
He was delighted with the way his side saw off Derry City at the RSC last weekend, creating some good chances and defending well which restricted their opponents to set piece threats, but was keen to point out that it is still very much early days, with the season barely begun. He was also at pains to make the point that The Blues would struggle against Salthill unless they can carry those early season levels of endeavour and determination into this game. The tie represents something of a voyage into the unknown for United, as they have never crossed paths with the Galway outfit in any competition.
 
The Blues boss will have an almost full squad to choose from. Kevin Murray suffered a broken nose in the Derry game, but after treatment returned to see out the match, and should start this weekend. Seamus Long returns from his one match suspension. Paul McCarthy took another knock to his already injured ankle and may be rested – Henderson has already indicated that the club’s most recent signing James O’Sullivan is likely to make his first start in McCarthy’s place. 


Henderson Quotes: 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the Derry match:

“We played some wonderful attacking football in the first half, and scored our goal which we fully deserved because we created a couple of great chances.”
“In the second half they pushed us back deep but we defended well and to be fair I can’t remember our keeper being overworked.”
“Chris Konopka had only one shot to deal with from play and that tells you how our defence are playing.”
“This season we have built a good work ethic into the team, and we demand one hundred percent effort from each player home or away, so if we can’t beat the opposition with fast attacking football we can wear them down and get our win that way.”
“It’s a super beginning but we have played only three games. It looks good in the cold light of day, but remember we have another 30 games to play, so let’s keep calm about the situation we find ourselves in.”
 
 
On the upcoming Salthill game:
 
“Now we move on to Salthill Devon and look to pick up another three points, and there is no reason why we can’t, however it will only happen if we show the same attitude and determination.”
“Even after taking nine early points and beating the two teams that came down from the Premier Division we will not underestimate Salthill.”
“We know the pitch is a good one up there so it will enable us to knock the ball around and that will suit us. But if it turns into a battle then we can play that way as well.”  


Suspensions & Injuries:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Suspensions:
none
 
Injuries:
Paul McCarthy – ankle, unlikely to start
  


Top Scorers (League):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
2 – Alan Carey
2 – Vinny Sullivan
1 – Liam Kearney
1 – Willie John Kiely


Top Scorers (Pre-Season):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
7 – Vinny Sullivan
2 – Paul McCarthy
1 – Alan Carey
1 – Gary Keane
1 – Kevin Murray
1 – Timmy Purcell
1 – Willie John Kiely
(& 2 own goals) 


Recent Form:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Last Match:
Waterford United    1 – 0    Derry City
Liam Kearney 12
 
Form:
WWLDWW WWW 
 

Head-to-Head:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
no previous meetings  


Betting:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Salthill: 6/1
Waterford: 4/9
Draw: 13/5 


Results This Season:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
19 Mar 10     h     Waterford United  1 – 0  Derry City (ALFD)
12 Mar 10     a     Cork City FORAS Co-op  0 – 2  Waterford United (ALFD)
05 Mar 10     h     Waterford United  3 – 0  Wexford Youths (ALFD)
 
27 Feb 10     a     Sporting Fingal  1 – 3  Waterford United (Fr)
24 Feb 10     a     West Waterford / East Cork League XI  0 – 6  Waterford United (Fr)
20 Feb 10     h     Waterford United  0 – 0  St Patrick’s Athletic (Fr)
17 Feb 10     a     Tramore AFC  2 – 1  Waterford United (Fr)
10 Feb 10     a     Cork Oscar Traynor XI  0 – 3  Waterford United (Fr)
06 Feb 10     a     Tralee Dynamos  0 – 3  Waterford United (Fr) 


Next 6 Matches:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
03 Apr 10     a     Mervue United (ALFD)
09 Apr 10     h     Limerick FC (ALFD)
13 Apr 10     a     Kerry League (EASC)
16 Apr 10     a     Monaghan United (ALFD)
23 Apr 10     h     Finn Harps (ALFD)
01 May 10    a     Longford Town (ALFD)

The Blues Supporters Club membership roll has been going from strength to strength since the new club was constituted back in December.

Some time ago the number reached three figures, and to mark the occasion a presentation was made to the 100th member, Damien Dalton, after the recent Derry City match. Damien, accompanied by Jack Kiely and Jake Dalton, received one of the much-coveted etched club tankards from Owen Tubbritt of the BSC.

Since then, membership has continued to rise rapidly, and it surely will not be long before the 200 mark is passed! Anyone interested in joining should contact Owen or David at the club shop on matchnights, or call the BSC phone on 083-4033699, you could be number 200!

Right click here and ‘save target as‘ to download the application form pdf for the Portlaw FC and Waterford United jointly hosted Easter Camp which will take place at the Paddock, Portlaw from Tuesday 6th to Friday 9th of April, 10am to 2pm.

Waterford United  1 – 0  Derry City

Waterford United tonight saw off a robust challenge from a Derry team who will surely be one of the main contenders for the top spot this season. An entertaining and exciting game saw the home side hold onto their early lead, sometimes with less comfort than they might have wished, but in truth restricting their illustrious rivals to just a couple of real chances.

In driving wind and rain the Blues began the match with just one – enforced – change from last weekend, as John Hayes came into the backline in place of the suspended Seamus Long. Hayes and his defensive colleagues found themselves under pressure from the start, as a fired-up Derry set a frantic early pace. Just four minutes in, a superb through ball from Emmet Friars spilt the Blues rearguard, setting James McClean away down the left to cross low for Davy McDaid, who scooped his effort a foot over the crossbar. A minute later McClean was in again, his cross only snatched at by Hayes, but Kevin Murray was close at hand to block McDaid’s attempt behind for a corner.

Though momentarily reeling, Waterford steadied themselves quickly, and on eight minutes Paul McCarthy tried to lob Ger Doherty after Liam Kearney’s industry set him up, but he overcooked the attempt, and three minutes later John Kearney forced a fine save from Doherty with a well struck 25-yard free kick. And within seconds the deadlock was broken. A great forward ball from Gareth Cambridge was knocked down expertly by Willie John Kiely for his strike partner Vinny Sullivan. The Dungarvan man’s close-range shot across the face of goal had Doherty beaten, but cannoned back off the butt of the post, only for Liam Kearney to gleefully slam the rebound  home for his first Blues goal.

 A Sullivan volley over the top after Alan Carey’s cross was only half cleared was the only other effort of note as the game flagged somewhat in the middle of the half, but on 28 minutes United went close again, as Cambridge almost teed up the rangy striker once more, and his mishit shot nearly caught out Doherty, who adjusted well to hold close in. On 35 minutes John Kearney met a Carey corner with a thumping header just off target, and shortly afterwards another fine Blues move saw Sullivan almost find Liam Kearney with a whipped-in cross from the right. Derry were still well in the half throughout, doing well in midfield in particular through Barry Molloy and Ruairi Harkin, but just missing the final ball.

As in the first half, City came out the brighter after the break, testing Konopka with a couple of dangerous corners, one of which saw Patrick McEleney volley a half-clearance wildly over. But again, as in the opening period, the home side began to get into the game before long, and on the hour mark the industrious Kiely got clear down the right, crossing low for Sullivan only for McChrystal to get his head to the ball first. Two minutes later, though, a lapse at the back almost lost the home side the lead, as Hayes and Konopka left McClean’s inswinging cross to each other, and the keeper had to react late to claw the ball around the far post. At the other end Kiely almost set up Sullivan again, but Doherty anticipated well to get fingertips to the ball.

Without creating much in the way of chances (testament to the work of Gary Dunphy once again in front of the back four as much as anyone), Derry were still very much in the game, and McChrystal served notice of the fact on 81 minutes when he powered a header inches over from a corner kick. Indeed, in the swirling wind it was with corners that the Candystripes were at their most dangerous, and the Blues had to weather a couple more before the end of proceedings. They had a glorious chance to wrap it up early on 89 minutes, as a magnificent cross-field ball from John Kearney after a quick break-out found Timmy Purcell, who crossed low for David Grincell six yards out, but the young striker slipped over the ball with the goal at his mercy. That would have been the icing on the cake, but it was a very solid performance from a very mature Blues outfit, against by far their toughest opponents to date. A good haul from the next two away games is now the target as the season rolls on!

Waterford: Chris Konopka; Alan Carey, John Hayes, Kevin Murray, John Kearney; Gareth Cambridge (Timmy Purcell 70), Gary Dunphy, Paul McCarthy (Kevin Waters 88), Liam Kearney; Willie John Kiely (David Grincell 74), Vinny Sullivan – subs: Paul Carey, James O’Sullivan

Goals: L Kearney 12

Booked: Kiely

Derry: Ger Doherty; Eddie McCallion, Mark McChrystal, Shane McEleney, Emmet Friars; Patrick McEleney (Vinny Sweeney 74), Barry Molloy, Ruairi Harkin, James McClean; Davy McDaid, Mark Farren (Adam Clarke 79) - subs: Eugene Ferry, Seamus Sharkey, James Henry

Booked: Harkin, S McEleney, Sweeney

Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)

Right click and ‘save target as‘ to download the A4 match poster for the Blues v Derry City league game.

In Friday’s Derry City programme:

Brendan White recalls last weekend’s Big Occasion,

Shane Murphy looks at a Blues great – twice over,

Brian Kennedy muses upon the Town They Love So Well,

Michael Butler turns up some surprising facts on our first Euro odyssey,

and Tom Flynn talks to a bona fide Blues and Irish legend.

All this and more in Friday’s match programme!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Team Bulletin
Waterford United v Derry City at the RSC
Friday, March 19th, 2010 (KO 7.45pm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
 
 
    
Match Preview: 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After a bright opening to the 2010 season, Waterford United host pre-season favourites Derry City this Friday night (KO 7.45pm) in what is already a significant game for both sides.

The Blues have put in two fine performances thus far in the league, winning the first two games, scoring five and conceding none, as good a start as anyone could have hoped. And with the way other results have already fallen, a win over the Candystripes would open up a useful early season lead over their fancied promotion rivals. Last week, a gratifyingly mature display from United saw them comfortably overcome Cork City FORAS, with their most assured and effective performance in many a game, in control in all areas of the pitch, and laying down an impressive marker.
 
Derry though, have had a decent start themselves, drawing with Cork in a potentially tricky opening game to the season, and last week grinding out a valuable three points against a determined Limerick side. In these early exchanges, Friday’s game will be a useful demonstration of where both teams are right now. The Foylesiders will also take encouragement from their recent form at the RSC, where they’ve won three of their last four matches, albeit in 2006 and 2007!
 
Henderson will have to plan without the services of defender Seamus Long, serving a suspension from last season. Centre back Kevin Murray and midfielder Paul McCarthy both have slight knocks, but are expected to feature. 
 
    
Henderson Quotes: 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the Cork match:

“I think we deserved the win as we dominated the game pretty much from the start.”
“We defended very well once again and kept the ball on the ground.”
“It was a very mature performance from our lads, one that showed we’re more than capable of dealing with these pressurised situations, but we won’t be getting carried away with this performance ahead of our game with Derry next week.”
 

On the upcoming Derry game:
 
“Derry will be the clear favourites to win the league this season, based on the quality players they managed to hold onto from last season’s panel, and the bright young talent they have coming through.”
“But there is no doubt we are getting better with every game.”
“The lads know there is no room for complacency, only a ruthless desire from every squad member to win every game will acheive our goal of promotion.” 
 
    
Suspensions & Injuries:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Suspensions:
Seamus Long – 1 match (8 yellow cards)
 
Injuries:
Kevin Murray – thigh, slight doubt
Paul McCarthy – ankle, slight doubt
  
    
Top Scorers (League):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
2 – Alan Carey
2 – Vinny Sullivan
1 – Willie John Kiely
 
 
Top Scorers (Pre-Season):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
7 – Vinny Sullivan
2 – Paul McCarthy
1 – Alan Carey
1 – Gary Keane
1 – Kevin Murray
1 – Timmy Purcell
1 – Willie John Kiely
(& 2 own goals) 
 
    
Recent Form:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Last Match:
Cork City FORAS Co-op    0 – 2    Waterford United
                                              (A Carey 29 pen, Sullivan 60)
 
Form:
WWLDWW WW 
 
    
Head-to-Head:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
05 Oct 07    L      Waterford United  v  Derry City    2 – 1
29 May 07   L      Derry City  v  Waterford United    1 – 1
13 Apr 07    L      Waterford United  v  Derry City    0 – 1
13 Nov 06    L      Waterford United  v  Derry City    0 – 1
30 Jul 06      L     Derry City  v  Waterford United    4 – 0
28 Apr 06     L     Waterford United  v  Derry City    1 – 2
  
 
    
Betting:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Waterford: 23/20
Derry: 21/10
Draw: 21/10 
 
    
Results This Season:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
12 Mar 10     a     Cork City FORAS Co-op  0 – 2  Waterford United (ALFD)
05 Mar 10     h     Waterford United  3 – 0  Wexford Youths (ALFD)
 
27 Feb 10     a     Sporting Fingal  1 – 3  Waterford United (Fr)
24 Feb 10     a     West Waterford / East Cork League XI  0 – 6  Waterford United (Fr)
20 Feb 10     h     Waterford United  0 – 0  St Patrick’s Athletic (Fr)
17 Feb 10     a     Tramore AFC  2 – 1  Waterford United (Fr)
10 Feb 10     a     Cork Oscar Traynor XI  0 – 3  Waterford United (Fr)
06 Feb 10     a     Tralee Dynamos  0 – 3  Waterford United (Fr) 

    
Next 6 Matches:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
27 Mar 10     a     Salthill Devon (ALFD)
03 Apr 10     a     Mervue United (ALFD)
09 Apr 10     h     Limerick FC (ALFD)
13 Apr 10     a     Kerry League (EASC)
16 Apr 10     a     Monaghan United (ALFD)
23 Apr 10     a     Finn Harps (ALFD)

Waterford’s own Keith Barry was on hand to unveil the new Azzuri kit for the 2010 season, at a launch arranged by main club sponsors 3 Ireland recently.

Joined by models Ruth O’Neill and Nadia Forde, and Waterford United’s Chris Smyth, the world-renowned magician kicked off what promises to be a magical season ahead for the Blues!