Blues stars, past, present and future: Willie John Kiely, Kevin Burns, Alan Barry, Vinny Sullivan, Jake Pheasey, Alfie Hale, Michael Coady

The annual Walk For The Blues will take place on Friday, July 9th, from 5.30pm, a much needed fundraiser for United after a month with just two small home gates.

This year, to tie in with the 80th anniversary celebrations, the annual walk will take place from Kilcohan Park to the RSC, with refreshements at the ground after the walk, and hopefully as many of those taking part kitted out in the blue colours as we can get; there will be a prize for the best kitted out Blues fan. To facilitate people driving to the event, the RSC will be open ahead of time so you can leave your car there beforehand, and stroll up to Kilcohan where the walk will kick off round about 5.30.

In addition, all those with sponsor cards, of any amount large or small, will be free into that night’s Monaghan United game. It really is key that the walk is a success for the club, with income down to a trickle over the last few weeks, and it would be great to see all our Blues fans picking up a card and some sponsorship and doing the walk if at all possible.

After the game there will be a great night in store in Alfie Hale’s in Ballybricken, with music and craic, and a meet-and-greet with a raft of Blues legends who will be in attendance for the festivities, among them Al Finucane, one of the first to confirm his attendance at both events. The walk, and the night afterwards, marks three anniversaries for the club. In addition to our 80 years in existence, 2010 also marks 30 years since our last FAI Cup win, and 20 years since we won our first First Division title.

Sponsor cards are available now from the club office at the RSC, from John Ryan’s on Patrick Street, or from any member of the management committee. Please do pick one up if you haven’t already!

Two Blues fans at last year's walk

The Friends Of Waterford United are auctioning a wonderful one-off Waterford Crystal eagle on eBay, with the profits from the sale going to the club.

The entry has been listed on the eBay site from today, and can be found here.

The sculpture is a genuine one-off, and a piece of history, as it is the last such piece hand-made by a master craftsman at the Kilbarry factory. It is a flawless, unique piece of Waterford Crystal that cannot be reproduced.

Very few such eagles have ever been created, and no two are the same. The few that are in existence are in the possession of such luminaries as the band The Eagles, who were each presented with one following their sell-out concert in Dublin.

The dimensions of the piece are 400mm x 375mm or 15.76 inches x 14.76 inches.

This is a piece for a serious collectors of bespoke crystal, and as such the club is asking all fans to get the word out to as many people as they can around the world. We cannot have enough people know about this, especially those with the wherewithal to avail of the opportunity to own such a piece.

Please spread the link: http://cgi.ebay.ie/Genuine-Waterford-Crystal-Eagle-/170506292006?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_205&hash=item27b2f78b26

Waterford United have confirmed the release of two players effective immediately.

Midfielder George O’Callaghan and striker/midfielder Gareth Cambridge are no longer a part of Stephen Henderson’s squad, having had their contracts terminated by mutual consent. The club would like to thank George and Gareth for their contributions to the season, and wish them both the very best of luck in their future endeavours.

The Blues have, of course, moved to strengthen the squad in recent weeks, with the addition of three new faces in Paul Murphy, Shane Barrett and Michael Coady, and competition for places in the starting XI remains fierce, as is to be expected and hoped in a team in the hunt for a league title.

Waterford United  3 – 0  Mervue United

Waterford proved to have too much for Mervue in the battle of the United’s at the RSC on Friday. The Blues continued where they left off before the mid-season break, and in truth could have won by a couple more such was their grip on the game. Mervue, to their credit, battled hard, and might have had one themselves when they struck the woodwork, but were always under the cosh as United eased to victory, and closed the gap on Derry City thanks to Longford’s hard-fought point at the Brandywell. The game marked the first start, and second goal, for new striker Paul Murphy, and also saw a hugely impressive debut for Michael Coady in his first ever league match, who looked solid and assured, something of a veteran in fact, at left back.

Waterford were quickly into goalmouth action, Murphy glancing a header wide of the far post from Vinny Sullivan’s seventh minute cross. Indeed the new signing was at the spearhead of most attacks in the first half, with an attempted lob on 17 minutes, and a firm downward header a minute later, both drawing saves from the impressive Mervue ‘keeper Ger Hanley, the latter a simply superb one-handed stop. Just prior to that flurry of activity the visitors had given the home side a scare, when a left to right crossfield ball was allowed travel through to the far post for Rory Gaffney, whose attempted lob was underhit just enough to allow Kevin Burns to block, and Kevin Murray to clear.

On 26 minutes the Blues had their best chance thus far, as Sullivan raced clear onto James O’Sullivan’s through ball, only to drag his shot past Hanley but wide of the left post. And within minutes Murphy was in the thick of it again. Just seconds after seeming to be dragged down in the area as he got on the end of a lofted Seamus Long ball, the Wexford man found himself through one-on-one against Hanley, electing to nutmeg the keeper who made a fine block. Liam Kearney salvaged the loose ball and fed Sullivan wide on the right, and his cross to the far post was met with another header from Murphy, across the face of goal and inches wide. Two minutes later and the Blues went closest of all, as Liam Kearney’s cross to the back post was intelligently headed back into the danger area by Murphy, and Sullivan came flying in at the back post only to see his header cannon back off the crossbar. From the follow up O’Sullivan attempted a 20-yard lob which floated over the top.

With chance after chance going a-begging in the first half, it was perhaps inevitable that the opening goal – long overdue – would come from some form of fluke or accident, but the manner in which it arrived will live long in the memory of the small crowd. Kenny Farrell would have had nothing on his mind only getting rid of the ball as he stepped forward to whack it clear of Paul Murphy seven minutes after the restart, but unfortunately for him, and especially the hapless Mike Elwood, the ball struck his teammate square in the face, and flew the full 25 yards in a glorious arc over the stranded, and it must be said, rooted goalkeeper Ger Hanley, and under the Mervue crossbar. Insult then added to injury as Elwood was credited with the own goal.

Bizarre as it was, the pressure was off the home side, and Vinny Sullivan, who just before the goal had had a shot cleared from under his crossbar by Alex Lee, brought another fine save from Hanley, who somehow clawed away his far post header from John Kearney’s cross. Just one minute later the impressive Murphy got the goal his play deserved though, as James O’Sullivan took a short corner from John Kearney and centred for Murphy to power a near post header past the helpless Hanley from 12 yards.

Paul McCarthy and substitute Gary Dunphy then both went close with long range efforts, and McCarthy should have done better with a header when well placed, but on 76 minutes the visitors almost caught their hosts on the hop, as Enda Curran let fly from 30 yards, a viciously struck shot that beat Kevin Burns all ends up, but thumped into the upright. Almost immediately at the other end Mike Elwood was almost involved in a second bizarre own goal, as Dunphy’s low cross from the left was diverted goalwards by Martin Conneely, the ball flicking up off Elwood’s knee and onto the top of the crossbar, with Hanley possibly also getting a vital touch, an astonishing save if so.

McCarthy was unlucky to see his neatly curled shot from the edge of the box fly just wide of the far post on 80 minutes after a nice move up the middle, but a minute from time the Blues wrapped up the win, desperately bad luck on Hanley, who again made a superb one-handed reaction stop, denying Kevin Murray’s close range sidefoot effort from John Kearney’s corner, only for the ball to pop up perfectly for the well-placed Willie John Kiely to head home the rebound, a lovely present for the striker who was celebrating his 22nd birthday the same day.

So 3-0 it finished, a fine home performance, and a good confidence boost for the side ahead of next week’s tough assignment against Limerick at Jackman Park.

Waterford: Kevin Burns; Alan Carey, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, Michael Coady; James O’Sullivan (Gary Dunphy 63), Paul McCarthy (Kevin Waters 84), John Kearney, Liam Kearney; Vinny Sullivan, Paul Murphy (Willie John Kiely 75) - subs: Chris Konopka, John Hayes

Goals: Elwood o.g. 53, Murphy 56, Kiely 89

Booked: O’Sullivan

Mervue: Ger Hanley, Kevin Crehan, Kenny Farrell, Nicky Curran, Mike Elwood, Simon Walsh, David Goldbey (Dan Cunningham 45), Alex Lee (Martin Conneely 64), Enda Curran, Rory Gaffney (Evan Connolly 65), Mark Ludden – subs: Noel Varley, Darren Young

Booked: Curran

Referee: Jim McKell (Tipperary)

In the World Cup tinged Mervue programme this Friday:

Shane Murphy does his best Sgt Pepper impression as he looks back at another momentous June 25th,

Tom Flynn talks to a local football legend, who all-too-briefly starred for the Blues,

Brian Kennedy predicts ten things we are likely to witness at South Africa 2010,

Bluebeard examines the fan’s rite of passage that is the away game,

And, by overwhelmingly popular demand, Quotewordy returns with some choice lines (some you’ll know, some you won’t) from past World Cups!

All this, plus the usual news, views and info, only in your Friday night match programme!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Team Bulletin
Waterford United v Mervue United at the RSC 
Friday, June 25th, 2010 (KO 7.45pm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Waterford United will be hoping to continue as they left off before the mid-season break when they host Mervue United at the RSC this Friday night (KO 7.45pm).

After a shaky spell in the league for much of May, the Blues began to get back to form as the break loomed. Two strong, but ultimately fruitless, performances in the national Cup competitions were followed in the final week by an 8-0 demolition of Salthill Devon, and a 3-1 win in the Munster Senior Cup final to lift the trophy for the third time in four seasons. The break then may not have come at the most welcome time for United, but a long, and seemingly rolling, injury list had been playing havoc with the squad, and from that point of view the rest was invaluable, as strains, knocks and aches had time to heal.

With all of the Cups done and dusted for Waterford now, minds can be focussed solely on the League, and on closing the seven point gap at the top of the table, but that is not to say that Friday’s opponents will be treated lightly. Mervue have proven to be tricky opposition in the past, not least in the return game earlier this season, where the Blues endured a nervy last 20 minutes before running out 3-2 winners. The fact is though that of the four meetings between the sides to date, all have resulted in Waterford wins, and the home side will be keen to make that five if they are not to lose touch with Derry at the top.

The break had seen all existing ailments cleared up, but unfortunately an ankle injury in training this week will rule out full back Paul Carey, possibly for two weeks. Namesake Alan is back in full training however, and is poised to slot back in at right full. Goalkeeper Chris Konopka returns to contention following a one match ban.

Suspensions & Injuries:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suspensions:
none
 
Injuries:
Paul Carey (defender) – ankle, possibly 2 weeks

Top Scorers (League):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9 – Vinny Sullivan
3 – Alan Carey
3 – Willie John Kiely
2 – George O’Callaghan
2 – Liam Kearney
2 – Paul McCarthy
1 – Kevin Murray
1 – Paul Murphy
1 – Timmy Purcell
1 – own goal
 
Top Scorers (All Competitions):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
9 – Vinny Sullivan (9 Lge)
8 – George O’Callaghan (2 Lge, 5 EA, 1 MSC)
6 – Willie John Kiely (3 Lge, 2 EA, 1 MSC)
5 – David Grincell (2 EA, 3 MSC)
3 – Alan Carey (3 Lge)
3 – Paul McCarthy (2 Lge, 1 MSC)
2 – James O’ullivan (1 EA, 1 MSC)
2 – Liam Kearney (2 Lge)
2 – Timmy Purcell (1 Lge, 1 MSC)
1 – Gareth Cambridge (1 EA)
1 – John Kearney (1 EA)
1 – Kevin Murray (1 Lge)
1 – Kevin Waters (1 MSC)
1 – Paul Murphy (1 Lge)
1 – own goal (1 Lge)

Recent Form:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last Match:
Waterford United    3 – 1    Midleton FC
Grincell 9, 12                    Murphy 54
O’Sullivan 47
 
Waterford United    8 – 0    Salthill Devon
Sullivan 4, 49, 53, 66
McCarthy 21 pen, 46
Murphy 84, L Kearney 93
 
Form:
All: WWWWW WWLWW LDWWL WDLLL WW
League: WWWWW WLWLD WLDLW

Head-to-Head:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
03 Apr 10    Lge     Mervue United    2 – 3    Waterford United
20 Oct 09    Lge     Waterford United    1 – 0    Mervue United
01 Aug 09    Lge     Mervue United    0 – 2    Waterford United
02 May 09    Lge     Waterford United    2 – 0    Mervue United

Betting:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waterford: 2/9
Mervue: 10/1
Draw: 4/1

Results This Season:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Jun 10     h     Midleton FC                            (MSC)       3-1       W
08 Jun 10     h     Salthill Devon                         (ALFD)       8-0       W
04 Jun 10     a     Longford Town                      (FAIFC)       0-1       L
01 Jun 10     h     Dundalk                                (EASC)       1-2       L
29 May 10    a     Derry City                             (ALFD)       0-2       L
21 May 10    h     Cork City FORAS Co-op            (ALFD)      1-1       D
18 May 10    a     Limerick FC                            (MSC)       3-0       W
14 May 10    a     Wexford Youths                     (ALFD)       0-1        L
11 May 10    h     Tralee Dynamos                     (EASC)       9-0       W
07 May 10    a     Shelbourne                            (ALFD)       1-0       W
04 May 10    h     Athlone Town                        (ALFD)       0-0        D
01 May 10    a     Longford Town                       (ALFD)       1-2        L
23 Apr 10     h     Finn Harps                             (ALFD)      2-0        W
20 Apr 10     h     Tramore AFC                          (MSC)       3-2        W
16 Apr 10     a     Monaghan United                    (ALFD)       0-1        L
12 Apr 10     a     Kerry League                          (EASC)      2-0        W
09 Apr 10     h     Limerick FC                            (ALFD)       2-1        W
03 Apr 10     a     Mervue United                        (ALFD)       3-2        W
27 Mar 10     a     Salthill Devon                         (ALFD)       1-0        W
19 Mar 10     h     Derry City                              (ALFD)       1-0        W
12 Mar 10     a     Cork City FORAS Co-op            (ALFD)       2-0        W
05 Mar 10     h     Wexford Youths                      (ALFD)       3-0        W

Next 6 Matches:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
02 Jul 10      a     Limerick (ALFD)
09 Jul 10      h     Monaghan United (ALFD)
16 Jul 10      a     Finn Harps (ALFD)
23 Jul 10      h     Longford Town (ALFD)
28 Jul 10      a     Athlone Town (ALFD)
06 Aug 10    h     Shelbourne (ALFD)

Waterford United 3 - 1 Midleton FC

Waterford United retained the Munster Senior Cup at the RSC last night with a 3-1 win over Munster Senior League side Midleton FC. Two early goals from David Grincell helped the Blues on their way, and though the Cork outfit got themselves back into the game late on, it was a relatively straightforward win for United in the end.

The Blues opened the scoring after just nine minutes. John Kearney fed Kevin Murray wide on the right, and the skipper dinked in a superb ball to the back post that Grincell followed in to slam home from close range. And three minutes later the striker doubled his tally, racing clear into the area onto Timmy Purcell’s slotted pass, and tucking it away with aplomb after a neat first touch.

At the other end Billy Woods had Kevin Burns scrambling across goal to see his long range effort wide of the left post, and shortly afterwards a superb move saw Grincell holding the ball up well in the right channel before crossing low for Purcell, whose clever side-foot curled agonisingly wide of the far post. On 40 minutes Gary Keane was equally anguished to see what might have been his first Blues goal drift wide of the near post, set up with a lovely chipped pass from the lively Grincell, who had the ball in the net for a third time himself a minute later, only for the goal to be ruled out for a handball. Midleton themselves had one chalked off on the stroke of half time. Referee Andrew Mullaly played a good advantage as Kevin O’Brien rode a challenge, but when he fed James Murphy the striker was just offside, though he finished well to the bottom corner.

James O’Sullivan extended the Blues lead almost immediately after the restart, racing through the middle onto a wonderfully weighted Timmy Purcell pass, and clipping home inside the left post with the outside of his right boot. And four minutes later David Grincell was denied a hat-trick once again, deemed to be offside as he headed home Liam Kearney’s pin-point cross from a short corner, despite the ball flying past a defender stationed on the post. On 54 minutes Midleton got one back, something of a gift as Paul Carey and John Hayes got into a mix-up on the right side, allowing James Murphy to drive forward and finish well past the exposed Kevin Burns.

That goal aside, Midleton had not threatened overmuch, and the Blues had their chances to further extend the lead as the half wore on. Gary Keane had a volley bravely charged down by John Mallon, Grincell fired across the face of goal after skipping around goalkeeper Adrian O’Donovan on the left edge of the area, Purcell fired just wide from 20 yards, and a John Kearney free kick forced a fine tip-over from O’Donovan, but the scoreline remained the same, and into the last ten minutes it was the Midleton substitutes who looked more likely to add to it.

Danny Morrissey looked lively on the left side after his introduction, and on 80 minutes a quick break onto a long ball forced Burns to come out quickly and bravely to save at his feet. Four minutes later Morrissey did superbly to get deep into the left of the area and fire across goal for the inrushing Stephen O’Leary, but Liam Kearney had tracked him the whole way back, and was on hand to cut out the cross. Deep into injury time Grincell had one more chance to nab his hat-trick, but was denied by a superb O’Donovan leg save as he raced clear into the box. In the end it didn’t matter though, as Kevin Murray lifted Waterford’s 14th Munster Senior Cup, and the 3rd in the last four seasons, as good a way as any to go into the mid-season break.

Waterford: Kevin Burns; Paul Carey, John Hayes (Willie John Kiely 69), Kevin Murray (Seamus Long 44), Liam Kearney; James O’Sullivan (Paul McCarthy 61), Gary Dunphy, John Kearney, Timmy Purcell; David Grincell, Gary Keane – subs: Josh Byrne, Gareth Cambridge

Goals: Grincell 9, 12, O’Sullivan 47

Booked: none

Midleton: Adrian O’Donovan, Martin Hickey, Killian Flavin, Kevin Stack, John Mallon, Ray Barnes, Ian Maher (Stephen O’Leary 77), Billy Woods, Kevin O’Brien (Danny Morrissey 62), James Murphy (Mark Duggan 73), John Keane – subs: Stuart Costigan, Michael Kenneally

Goals: Murphy 54

Booked: Barnes, Stack

Referee: Andrew Mullaly (Waterford)

Waterford United  8 – 0  Salthill Devon

With Waterford United bowing out of both Cup competitions last week, decent performances aside, a convincing and morale-boosting league victory was sorely needed to bring into the mid-season break, and they got that in spades tonight as they ran riot against a hapless Salthill Devon side at a rain-soaked RSC.

Two new signings started on the bench for the Blues, 19-year-old Wexford striker Paul Murphy, just returned from a spell at Ipswich Town, and ex-Cobh Ramblers midfielder Shane Barrett, but it was the old guard that were most prominent on the scoresheet, and it was United’s two most senior players who combined to open the scoring on four minutes, Vinny Sullivan applying a bullet header from six yards to Kevin Waters’ superb left wing cross.

The early goal settled the Blues, and as a comfortable half progressed the hugely impressive John Kearney twice went close, and James O’Sullivan shot straight at Marty Mannion in the Salthill goal when well placed, before the lead was doubled on 21 minutes. After collecting a Willie John Kiely pass in the left side of the area, Sullivan was brought to ground by Gearoid O’Leidhinn, and Paul McCarthy sent Mannion the wrong way from the spot. Sullivan forced a fine save from Mannion from a Waters corner ten minutes later, but just before half time Salthill were unlucky not to pull one back. Seamus Long handled on the edge of the area, in a perfect spot for Mike Quirke to fire in a left-footed free kick, which he duly did into the top corner. Unfortunately for Quirke he went too early, and his reward was a yellow card and a re-take, which flew over the top.

After that minor wobble the Blues were smartly out of the traps after the break, though few could have predicted what was about to happen. Paul McCarthy doubled his tally from eight yards out just a minute in, deftly heading home Liam Kearney’s dinked cross from the left edge of the box. And the dust had hardly settled when Vinny Sullivan also grabbed his second. James O’Sullivan’s delivery from the right was nodded on to the back post by Kevin Murray, and Sullivan had all the time in the world to control and fire past Marty Mannion and into the far corner.

The Dungarvan man nabbed his second ever league hat-trick on 53 minutes, a superb glancing header at the near post from Kevin Waters’ expert corner, and he made it four for himself – and six for his side – 13 minutes later, Waters again the provider as Sullivan stabbed home a low left wing free kick from ten yards, catching Mannion somewhat flat-footed at his near post. Paul Murphy had made his Blues bow a minute before, coming on for Willie John Kiely, and he capped an impressive debut cameo with a well taken goal on 84 minutes, heading home fellow sub Timmy Purcell’s centre from the right, sending the ball into the bottom far corner. The night was wrapped up with a deserved goal from Liam Kearney, who didn’t buck the trend, getting on the end of McCarthy’s cross to also score with his head in similar fashion. And so the Blues go into the mid-season break on something of a high note after an up-and-down few weeks, with the chance of more Munster Senior Cup success to come in two days time. Then one simple task remaining upon the resumption, promotion!

Waterford: Kevin Burns; Paul Carey, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, Kevin Waters; James O’Sullivan (Timmy Purcell 74), Paul McCarthy, John Kearney, Liam Kearney; Vinny Sullivan (Gary Dunphy 86), Willie John Kiely (Paul Murphy 65) - subs: John Hayes, Shane Barrett

Goals: Sullivan 4, 49, 53, 66, McCarthy 21 pen, 46, Murphy 84, Liam Kearney 93

Booked: Long

Salthill: Marty Mannion, Brian Geraghty, Gearoid O’Leidhinn, Shane Stenson, James Whelan, Sean Boyle, Shane Browne, Luke McConnell (Conor Hoctor 75), Mike Quirke (John McGrath 65), Charlie Burke (Gerry Dolan 45), Mike Kennedy – subs: Luke Nolan, Paddy Quinlan

Booked: O’Leidhinn, Quirke, Whelan, Stenson

Referee: Jim McKell (Tipperary)

It’s now down to the last couple of days for you to enter the Blues Supporters Club World Cup 2010 prediction competition, as the tournament starts this Friday!

The competition costs just €10 to enter, and you simply pick one team from each of the seeded pots chosen by the organisers, based on how well you think they will do over the course of the World Cup.

Points are then awarded as your chosen teams progress (or not!) through the various stages of the tournament, and the person with the highest points total at the end of the competition will win the €500 prize.

The entry form is available for download here. Forms to be returned, with remuneration, by Wednesday, June 9th.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Team Bulletin
Waterford United v Salthill Devon at the RSC 
Tuesday, June 8th, 2010 (KO 7.45pm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 
Waterford United get back to league action when they play host to Salthill Devon on Tuesday night (KO 7.45pm).
 
The break for the Cups has not been kind to the Blues, as they bowed out of both competitions within four days. But with their league form in a parlous state of late, the two games were as much about performances as progression, and from that point of view manager Stephen Henderson can take something from the week. His charges were unfortunate to lose out to Dundalk in the EA Sports Cup quarter final last Tuesday, arguably the better side on the night, and at Flancare Park the following Friday, a battling display saw a team unlucky to be down to 10 men after 10 minutes resist everything the home side could throw at them, and finish the stronger side, squandering several chances to at least take the tie to a replay.
 
Though he’d obviously prefer to still be in the competition, Henderson was not unhappy after the match to be able to focus fully on the remaining league fixtures, and ensuring promotion to the Premier division that was always the season’s sole aim. On the face of it, a home tie against the league’s bottom side would seem to be an ideal way to get back into league action, but United will not be complacent, mindful of how difficult the Galway side made it for the Blues at Drom back in March, when a solitary Vinny Sullivan goal late in the first half was, eventually, enough for all three points.
 
United will have to line out without goalkeeper Chris Konopka, serving an automatic ban for his Flancare red card. Kevin Burns is likely to continue to deputise. Full back Alan Carey remains on the injured list, and George O’Callaghan also remains a doubt. Midfielder Gary Dunphy returns from suspension.

Suspensions & Injuries:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suspensions:
Chris Konopka – 1 match, automatic
 
Injuries:
Alan Carey (defender) – ankle ligaments, 2 weeks
George O’Callaghan (midfielder) – hamstring, slight doubt

Top Scorers (League):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
5 – Vinny Sullivan
3 – Alan Carey
3 – Willie John Kiely
2 – George O’Callaghan
1 – Kevin Murray
1 – Liam Kearney
1 – Timmy Purcell
1 – own goal
 
Top Scorers (All Competitions):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8 – George O’Callaghan (2 Lge, 5 EA, 1 MSC)
6 – Willie John Kiely (3 Lge, 2 EA, 1 MSC)
5 – Vinny Sullivan (5 Lge)
3 – Alan Carey (3 Lge)
3 – David Grincell (2 EA, 1 MSC)
2 – Timmy Purcell (1 Lge, 1 MSC)
1 – Gareth Cambridge (1 EA)
1 – James O’Sullivan (1 EA)
1 – John Kearney (1 EA)
1 – Kevin Murray (1 Lge)
1 – Kevin Waters (1 MSC)
1 – Liam Kearney (1 Lge)
1 – Paul McCarthy (1 MSC)
1 – own goal (1 Lge)

Recent Form:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
Last Match:
Longford Town    1 – 0    Waterford United
Lester 12 pen
 
Form:
All: WWWWW WWLWW LDWWL WDLLL
League: WWWWW WLWLD WLDL

Head-to-Head:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
27 Mar 10     L     Salthill Devon    0 – 1    Waterford United

Betting:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waterford: 1/5
Salthill: 9/1
Draw: 9/2

Results This Season:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
04 Jun 10     a     Longford Town                      (FAIFC)       0-1       L
01 Jun 10     h     Dundalk                                (EASC)       1-2       L
29 May 10    a     Derry City                             (ALFD)       0-2       L
21 May 10    h     Cork City FORAS Co-op            (ALFD)      1-1       D
18 May 10    a     Limerick FC                            (MSC)       3-0       W
14 May 10    a     Wexford Youths                     (ALFD)       0-1        L
11 May 10    h     Tralee Dynamos                     (EASC)       9-0       W
07 May 10    a     Shelbourne                            (ALFD)       1-0       W
04 May 10    h     Athlone Town                        (ALFD)       0-0        D
01 May 10    a     Longford Town                       (ALFD)       1-2        L
23 Apr 10     h     Finn Harps                             (ALFD)      2-0        W
20 Apr 10     h     Tramore AFC                          (MSC)       3-2        W
16 Apr 10     a     Monaghan United                    (ALFD)       0-1        L
12 Apr 10     a     Kerry League                          (EASC)      2-0        W
09 Apr 10     h     Limerick FC                            (ALFD)       2-1        W
03 Apr 10     a     Mervue United                        (ALFD)       3-2        W
27 Mar 10     a     Salthill Devon                         (ALFD)       1-0        W
19 Mar 10     h     Derry City                              (ALFD)       1-0        W
12 Mar 10     a     Cork City FORAS Co-op            (ALFD)       2-0        W
05 Mar 10     h     Wexford Youths                      (ALFD)       3-0        W

Next 6 Matches:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 Jun 10     h     Midleton FC (MSC)
25 Jun 10     h     Mervue United (ALFD)
02 Jul 10      a     Limerick (ALFD)
09 Jul 10      h     Monaghan United (ALFD)
16 Jul 10      a     Finn Harps (ALFD)
23 Jul 10      h     Longford Town (ALFD)