Archive for September, 2010
Comprehensive win keeps pressure on at the top
Waterford United 3 – 0 Limerick FC
Report by Brendan White from extratime.ie
Waterford United continued their promotion push with a comprehensive 3-0 win against Munster rivals Limerick at the RSC on Friday night. Two goals from Liam Kearney and a Willie John Kiely strike earned the points against an out-of-sorts Limerick side that lacked any real fluency throughout.
Stephen Henderson named an unchanged starting eleven following their 6-1 win against Mervue United last weekend. Five Limerick changes saw David O’Leary, Dave Rogers, Thomas Heary, Pat Purcell and Bobby Ryan come into the starting squad.
Waterford United started the game quickest and opened the scoring after just four minutes with a goal of real quality. Timmy Purcell started the move down the right side and played a low through ball into Willie John Kiely. Kiely controlled, turned brilliantly and his pinpoint cross to the back post found the unmarked Liam Kearney who fired a right footed strike past Dave Ryan in the Limerick goal.
Limerick’s first real chance arrived eight minutes later but Pat Purcell fired over from a Bobby Ryan cross. David O’Leary also had a change but his strike was saved by Burns.
The home side’s lead was doubled after 19 minutes following a defensive blunder by Thomas Heary. A long ball from the back was terribly miscontrolled by Heary and the ball fell to Willie John Kiely who lobbed the ball over the stranded Dave Ryan for his 14th league goal of the season.
The frantic opening to the game continued three minutes later as Waterford United wasted the opportunity to end the game as a contest. Limerick captain Pat Purcell hand a hold of Kiely as he controlled the ball inside the penalty box and Referee Graham Kelly correctly pointed to the spot. Alan Carey stepped up but his low penalty was well saved by Ryan.
Just on the half hour, Liam Kearney made a darting run down the left leaving Thomas Heary in his wake, but his cross was saved by Ryan. Four minutes before half time Limerick had a chance to get back into the game. John Tierney played the ball into Shane Clarke who controlled and turned brilliantly but his strike was blocked.
The first chance of the second period fell to Limerick but Stephen O’Flynn’s free kick failed to test Kevin Burns. Murray then found Kearney who crossed to Sullivan but he fired wide. John Kearney then found himself one-on-one with Ryan 6 yards from goal and squared to Sullivan but he amazingly shot straight at Ryan when it seemed easier to score.
Minutes later O’Flynn and Lyons both went close after a poor punch clear by Waterford keeper Kevin Burns, but they couldn’t force the ball home. Limerick began to get back into the game now and Shane Clarke fired a superb volley off the crossbar within minutes of his introduction. Shane Treacy then crossed to the back post but Stephen O’Flynn’s header was well saved by Burns.
The Limerick pressure failed to penetrate the Waterford defence and the contest was ended in the final minute of the ninety as Liam Kearney grabbed his second of the game. Paul Murphy superb through ball set Kearney away and the winger used his pace to race clear and fire the ball into the bottom right corner beyond the hand of Ryan in the Limerick goal.
The win leaves Waterford United four points behind Derry City at the top and just one point behind Monaghan United in second. For Limerick, the defeat means that they are now seven points off a play-off spot.
(report courtesy of extratime.ie)
Waterford: Kevin Burns; Alan Carey, Seamus Long, Kevin Murray, Michael Coady; Timmy Purcell (Paul Murphy 45), Gary Dunphy, John Kearney, Liam Kearney (Kevin Waters 92); Vinny Sullivan (James O’Sullivan 93), Willie John Kiely – subs: Chris Konopka, John Hayes
Goals: L Kearney 4, 89, Kiely 19
Booked: Long
Limerick: Dave Ryan; David O’Leary, Dave Rogers, Thomas Heary (Brian O’Callaghan 54), Pat Purcell; Peter White, Bobby Ryan (Shane Tracy 67), Thomas Lyons (John Sullivan 59), John Tierney; Stephen O’Flynn, Shane Clarke – subs: Garbhan Coughlan, John McGuinness
Booked: Clarke, Lyons
Referee: Graham Kelly
What’s new in the new Limerick programme?
In the Limerick programme this Friday:
Bluebeard on the colour that links our two teams,
Brendan White on the thankless task of the men in black,
Brian Kennedy on the cliche-ridden world of telly footie,
And we round up a good fortnight for the Under-20s.
All this, plus the usual news, views and info, only in your Friday night match programme!
First Of Two Crucial Promotion Battles As Blues Host Limerick
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Team Bulletin
Waterford United v Limerick FC at the RSC
Friday, September 24th, 2010 (KO 7.45pm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After last weekend’s fantastic result at Terryland Park, Waterford United now gear up for the arrival of promotion rivals Limerick at the RSC this Friday night (KO 7.45pm), the first of two key battles in a row with promotion rivals as they head to Monaghan next weekend.
The Blues rattled in six past Mervue United in a hugely impressive attacking performance last Friday. A first-ever Blues hat-trick for Willie John Kiely (Waterford’s first hat-trick on the road for 7 years, since Vinny Sullivan against Everton of Cork) wrapped up an irresistable attacking display, built on a rock-solid central midfield platform, and United will be looking to keep up that momentum against the Shannonsiders this week as they set about further closing the gap to the top.
In their first encounter earlier this season the Blues were made to battle hard for the points in a game which finished up a 2-1 win. In fact, though they’ve managed to score in every game at the Cork Road venue, the RSC has proved a barren spot for Limerick in recent years, four losses in the last four for the Shannonsiders, but United will be mindful that their opponents have twice had a hand in derailing their promotion challenge in or about this stage of the past two seasons, albeit at Jackman Park.
That’s not something the Blues will fancy happening again at this stage of the campaign as they attempt to make ground on at least one of the two sides ahead of them (with Monaghan United in Cup final action), and put some daylight between them and the chasing pack. Stephen Henderson again will have no injuries or suspensions to worry about.
Henderson Quotes:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“It was great to bounce back from last week’s draw. We have lost only twice in fourteen games and we are coming into the business end of the season now.”
“I am happy for Willie John because he has worked really hard for us all season.”
“I said he was a born goalscorer when we beat Derry a few backs back and he proved that fact once again here tonight. He loves scoring goals for Waterford and the real loyal fans of the club appreciate that fact.”
“Gary Dunphy and John Kearney were terrific out there tonight also.”
“Perhaps we should have scored more goals tonight because goal difference could be important but we will take six and move on.”
“Next up is Limerick and then Monaghan, so it’s back to the training ground and focus on the task in hand against them.”
Suspensions & Injuries:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suspensions:
none
Injuries:
none
Top Scorers (League):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13 – Willie John Kiely
9 – Vinny Sullivan
4 – Alan Carey
3 – Kevin Murray
2 – George O’Callaghan
2 – John Kearney
2 – Liam Kearney
2 – Paul McCarthy
2 – Paul Murphy
2 – Timmy Purcell
1 – Kevin Waters
2 – own goal
Top Scorers (All Competitions):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
16 – Willie John Kiely (13 Lge, 2 EA, 1 MSC)
9 – Vinny Sullivan (9 Lge)
8 – George O’Callaghan (2 Lge, 5 EA, 1 MSC)
5 – David Grincell (2 EA, 3 MSC)
4 – Alan Carey (4 Lge)
3 – John Kearney (2 Lge, 1 EA)
3 – Kevin Murray (3 Lge)
3 – Paul McCarthy (2 Lge, 1 MSC)
3 – Timmy Purcell (2 Lge, 1 MSC)
2 – James O’Sullivan (1 EA, 1 MSC)
2 – Kevin Waters (1 Lge, 1 MSC)
2 – Liam Kearney (2 Lge)
2 – Paul Murphy (2 Lge)
1 – Gareth Cambridge (1 EA)
2 – own goal (2 Lge)
Recent Form:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last Match:
Mervue United 1 – 6 Waterford United
Goldbey 11 J Kearney 2, Kiely 34, 76, 92, Murray 66, Purcell 70
Form:
All: WWWWW WWLWW LDWWL WDLLL WWWDL DWDLW WWDW
League: WWWWW WLWLD WLDLW WDLDW DLWWW DW
Head-to-Head:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
02 Jul 10 L Limerick FC 0 – 0 Waterford United
09 Apr 10 L Waterford United 2 – 1 Limerick FC
16 Oct 09 L Limerick FC 2 – 1 Waterford United
25 Jul 09 L Waterford United 2 – 1 Limerick FC
24 Apr 09 L Limerick FC 0 – 2 Waterford United
17 Oct 08 L Limerick 37 5 – 1 Waterford United
08 Aug 08 L Waterford United 3 – 1 Limerick 37
30 May 08 L Limerick 37 0 – 3 Waterford United
04 Apr 08 L Waterford United 3 – 1 Limerick 37
Betting:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waterford: Evens
Limerick: 9/4
Draw: 9/4
Results This Season:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
17 Sep 10 a Mervue United (ALFD) 6-1 W
11 Sep 10 a Salthill Devon (ALFD) 1-1 D
03 Sep 10 h Derry City (ALFD) 2-0 W
20 Aug 10 a Cork City FORAS Co-op (ALFD) 1-0 W
13 Aug 10 h Wexford Youths (ALFD) 1-0 W
06 Aug 10 h Shelbourne (ALFD) 0-3 L
29 Jul 10 a Athlone Town (ALFD) 1-1 D
23 Jul 10 h Longford Town (ALFD) 2-0 W
16 Jul 10 a Finn Harps (ALFD) 1-1 D
09 Jul 10 h Monaghan United (ALFD) 1-2 L
02 Jul 10 a Limerick FC (ALFD) 0-0 D
25 Jun 10 h Mervue United (ALFD) 3-0 W
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
Remaining Matches:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
01 Oct 10 a Monaghan United (ALFD)
09 Oct 10 h Finn Harps (ALFD)
15 Oct 10 a Longford Town (ALFD)
22 Oct 10 h Athlone Town (ALFD)
30 Oct 10 a Shelbourne (ALFD)
Superb Result For U20s At Bray
Bray Wanderers U20s 0 – 3 Waterford United U20s
-- Two goal hero Darren White --
Six of the best as Blues ease past Mervue
Mervue United 1 - 6 Waterford United
Waterford United tonight produced an outstanding attacking display, putting six past a hapless Mervue United to make a strong statement of intent in the closing stages of the league, and claw back some ground on the teams at the top.
As last weekend, the Blues got off to the perfect start, Timmy Purcell with a deft knock-down for John Kearney, storming in to thump the ball right-footed to the top corner from just inside the box, less than two minutes in. But though Waterford, and Kearney in particular, were playing with some purpose as the half progressed, the home side were soon applying some pressure of their own. A corner kick saw Kevin Crehan’s looping header beat everyone but Purcell on the line, moments later the resulting throw-in set up Eric Browne for a shot which was blocked, and as Seamus Long looked to shepherd the rebound over the endline, the unnoticed David Goldbey struck for an emphatic equaliser on 11 minutes.
The Blues soon shook off the setback, and Willie John Kiely and Vinny Sullivan both put decent efforts over the top, before the Abbeyside man saw two great chances go a-begging on 25 minutes. Firstly, as a deft flick from Alan Carey’s ball in from the right hit the side netting, and then as Kiely pounced on a slack Mark Ludden backpass, only for Ger Hanley to get out quickly to block. It wasn’t to be long before the striker’s 11th of the season arrived though, as Carey fired in a 34th minute free kick that Hanley failed to hold, Kiely following in to bundle over the line from the closest range and claim the strike, though there was some doubt as to whether the ball had actually crossed the line direct from the free kick. The Blues kept their momentum to the end of the half, and went into the break by far the happier side.
Mervue made perhaps the better restart, with Rory Gaffney, in particular, causing some problems for the visitors, though it was Mark Ludden who came closest, with an always-rising half-volley from distance that flew over the crossbar ten minutes in. But as the hour mark came and went, the Blues began to gain the upper hand, and when Liam Kearney was brought down on the edge of the area on 66 minutes, the visitors took full exaction as Kevin Murray was on hand at the back post to nod Alan Carey’s pinpoint free kick into the net.
Within four minutes, the result was put beyond doubt with a quick breakaway. Mervue’s high defensive line was easily breached by a neat ball over the top, and as Willie John Kiely and Timmy Purcell both raced goalwards, the striker left it to the winger to slot it past Ger Hanley and into the net. More gloss was applied to the scoreline six minutes later when Michael Coady picked up on a loose back pass, forcing an excellent save from Hanley, the keeper unlucky to see the rebound fall to substitute Paul Murphy who unselfishly sent it sideways for Kiely to stroke home his second. Murphy was himself unlucky moments later to see his effort pass Hanley’s outstretched hand but also the post, and again five minutes from time when he shot narrowly over from a great position, and on the stroke of time the Wexford man almost teed up Kiely for his hat-trick, but Hanley did enough to force Kiely harmlessly wide.
Moments later John Kearney almost did likewise for Murphy, but again Hanley was equal to the task, and once more the Mervue ‘keeper stood up well to force Purcell wide and behind as the Blues laid seige to the home goal into stoppage time. Kiely’s threatened third finally arrived on 92 minutes, Murphy setting Purcell away with a superb through ball, and the striker on hand to gleefully turn the squared centre home, to crown an emphatic result for a side that are still very much in the hunt for the title!
Mervue: Ger Hanley, Martin Conneely, James Casserley, Eric Browne, Mark Ludden, Alex Lee (Dan Cunningham 63), Kevin Crehan, Barry McEntee, Rory Gaffney (Ryan Boyle 82), David Goldbey, Enda Curran (Michael Collins 73) - subs: Conor Gleeson, Mike Elwood
Goals: Goldbey 11
Booked: Conneely
Waterford: Kevin Burns; Alan Carey, Seamus Long, Kevin Murray, Michael Coady; Timmy Purcell, Gary Dunphy (James O’Sullivan 78), John Kearney, Liam Kearney (Kevin Waters 78); Willie John Kiely, Vinny Sullivan (Paul Murphy 73) – subs: Chris Konopka, John Hayes
Goals: J Kearney 2, Kiely 34, 76, 92, Murray 66, Purcell 70
Booked: Sullivan, Long
Referee: Rob Rogers
Terryland Tester As Blues Head West Again
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Team Bulletin
Mervue United v Waterford United at Terryland Park
Friday, September 17th, 2010 (KO 7.45pm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waterford United make their second journey to Galway in the space of six days when they take on Mervue United at Terryland Park this Friday (KO 7.45pm).
And they will be looking for a better return from their travels than last Saturday, when the concession of a late equaliser at Salthill Devon robbed them of the chance to make further ground on Derry City, further compounded by Monaghan United taking over at the top the following Monday. A fixture that proved tricky for the Blues in the first series of games – they eventually saw out a 1-0 win with 10 men – got off to a great start with Kevin Waters’ first league goal inside two minutes, but inability to secure the lead cost the visitors with minutes remaining, as Devon deservedly hit back though Mikey Gilmore.
Now the Blues face another tough test at Terryland Park, against a Mervue United side who, though they may be on the wrong end of a 10-game losing streak, really put it up to their southern visitors in the first phase fixture back at the start of April, a late comeback forcing a nervy finish to a 3-2 win for the Blues. A more comfortable 3-0 victory at the RSC in June would suit rather more as a template for Friday’s match, but it is the three points, whatever way they come, that is of paramount importance as the league nears its dramatic conclusion.
For the first time in a long while, manager Stephen Henderson has a full squad to select from. Full back Alan Carey came through last weekend’s game with no ill effects following his return from injury, and midfielder Shane Barrett returned to training this week after a six-week lay off following an appendectomy. Left back Michael Coady returns from suspension.
Suspensions & Injuries:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Suspensions:
none
Injuries:
none
Top Scorers (League):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
10 – Willie John Kiely
9 – Vinny Sullivan
4 – Alan Carey
2 – George O’Callaghan
2 – Kevin Murray
2 – Liam Kearney
2 – Paul McCarthy
2 – Paul Murphy
1 – John Kearney
1 – Kevin Waters
1 – Timmy Purcell
2 – own goal
Top Scorers (All Competitions):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
13 – Willie John Kiely (10 Lge, 2 EA, 1 MSC)
9 – Vinny Sullivan (9 Lge)
8 – George O’Callaghan (2 Lge, 5 EA, 1 MSC)
5 – David Grincell (2 EA, 3 MSC)
4 – Alan Carey (4 Lge)
3 – Paul McCarthy (2 Lge, 1 MSC)
2 – James O’Sullivan (1 EA, 1 MSC)
2 – John Kearney (1 Lge, 1 EA)
2 – Kevin Murray (2 Lge)
2 – Kevin Waters (1 Lge, 1 MSC)
2 – Liam Kearney (2 Lge)
2 – Paul Murphy (2 Lge)
2 – Timmy Purcell (1 Lge, 1 MSC)
1 – Gareth Cambridge (1 EA)
2 – own goal (2 Lge)
Recent Form:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Last Match:
Salthill Devon 1 – 1 Waterford United
Gilmore 85 Waters 2
Form:
All: WWWWW WWLWW LDWWL WDLLL WWWDL DWDLW WWD
League: WWWWW WLWLD WLDLW WDLDW DLWWW D
Head-to-Head:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
25 Jun 10 L Waterford United 3 – 0 Mervue United
03 Apr 10 L Mervue United 2 – 3 Waterford United
20 Oct 09 L Waterford United 1 – 0 Mervue United
01 Aug 09 L Mervue United 0 – 2 Waterford United
02 May 09 L Waterford United 2 – 0 Mervue United
Betting:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mervue: 15/2
Waterford: 3/10
Draw: 10/3
Results This Season:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
11 Sep 10 a Salthill Devon (ALFD) 1-1 D
03 Sep 10 h Derry City (ALFD) 2-0 W
20 Aug 10 a Cork City FORAS Co-op (ALFD) 1-0 W
13 Aug 10 h Wexford Youths (ALFD) 1-0 W
06 Aug 10 h Shelbourne (ALFD) 0-3 L
29 Jul 10 a Athlone Town (ALFD) 1-1 D
23 Jul 10 h Longford Town (ALFD) 2-0 W
16 Jul 10 a Finn Harps (ALFD) 1-1 D
09 Jul 10 h Monaghan United (ALFD) 1-2 L
02 Jul 10 a Limerick FC (ALFD) 0-0 D
25 Jun 10 h Mervue United (ALFD) 3-0 W
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
Remaining Matches:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
24 Sep 10 h Limerick FC (ALFD)
01 Oct 10 a Monaghan United (ALFD)
09 Oct 10 h Finn Harps (ALFD)
15 Oct 10 a Longford Town (ALFD)
22 Oct 10 h Athlone Town (ALFD)
30 Oct 10 a Shelbourne (ALFD)
Blues sign Murray for 2011
Waterford United are delighted to announce that they have today secured the services of inspirational skipper and centre-half Kevin Murray for the 2011 season.
The Cork native joined the Blues from Cobh Ramblers in January of 2009, and was an ever present in his first season, playing every single minute of every United match.
Salthill strike late to nab a point
Salthill Devon 1 – 1 Waterford United
Waterford United were rocked by a late Salthill equaliser at Drom Soccer Park on Saturday night. The Blues took an early lead, but were unable to expand upon it and close out the game, and paid the price five minutes from time.
Down a player from before kick-off, when Liam Kearney’s on-going hamstring injury caused him to sit the game out, United nonetheless made a super start just ninety seconds in, Kevin Waters converting Timmy Purcell’s right wing cross with a powerful diving header at the back post.
Thereafter though, Devon proved exceptionally hard to break down, and as the game wore on, both sides having traded long range efforts just over the top, the home side started to get more into the game into the last half hour, until, on 85 minutes, Brian Gaffney’s cross was powered to the net by the head of Mikey Gilmore, giving the home side a share of the spoils.
Luckily for United, Derry City’s draw against Athlone Town at the Brandywell means no ground was lost on the league leaders, but with six points still the gap, and seven games remaining, it’s all getting very fraught at the top!
Salthill: Ronan Forde, Dragos Barbu, Mike Quirke, Brian Geraghty, James Whelan, Cian McBrien, Daryl Horgan (Gerry Burke 90), Robbie Porter, Victor Collins (Mikey Gilmore 75), Ciprian Straut, Mike Kennedy (Brian Gaffney 71) - subs: Luke McConnell, Conor Murray
Goals: Gilmore 85
Booked: Barbu, Horgan, Gilmore
Waterford: Kevin Burns; Alan Carey, Seamus Long, Kevin Murray, Paul Carey; Timmy Purcell, Gary Dunphy, John Kearney, Kevin Waters; Willie John Kiely, Vinny Sullivan (Paul Walsh 77) - subs: Chris Konopka, John Hayes, James O’Sullivan
Goals: Waters 2
Booked: Kiely, Purcell, Long
Referee: K Callanan
Blues U-20s in six-goal thriller
Waterford United U20 3 – 3 FC Carlow U20
Blues defender Craig Nugent stops a Carlow attack (pic: Paul Elliot)
Waterford United’s Under-20s fought back bravely to prevent a cruel turn-around at the RSC on Saturday afternoon. Having gone two up without reply, the young Blues saw their lead turn to a deficit on the hour mark, but a late Adam Heaslip goal salvaged a well-deserved point for the home side.
The Blues got off to a flying start with a two goal lead inside ten minutes. Darren White exchanged a deft one-two with Paul Murphy before slotting past Stephen Duncan in the Carlow goal on six minutes, and three minutes later it was Murphy’s turn, converting Kevin Barry’s excellent left foot cross from six yards out. Further chances fell to both Murphy and White, but the Carlow ‘keeper was equal to the challenge, and kept his side in the game.
Two goals in as many minutes drew the visitors level, Darragh Walsh finishing off a quick counterattack on 24 minutes, and the same player flicking on for Eric Molloy to finish to the far corner moments later. Then on the hour mark Carlow took the lead, Crolan O’Gorman racing clear to lob Josh Byrne, and despite the Blues netminder getting a hand on the ball, he couldn’t keep it from crossing the line.
United pressed hard for an equaliser. Robbie Farrell had a shout for a penalty waved away when it appeared Duncan had floored the Blues player as he was rounded, and shortly afterwards Murphy forced the save of the match from from the Carlow ‘keeper with a superbly struck free kick. As time ran out though it was to by Murphy who provided the levelling score, swinging in a pinpoint corner which was emphatically dispatched by the head of Adam Heaslip for a deserved equaliser.
Paul Murphy on the attack (pic: Paul Elliot)
Fixture confirmations
As previously stated, Waterford United’s Under-20s will take on FC Carlow at the RSC at 2.00pm tomorrow (Saturday).
With the senior side away for the next two weeks, this game is a great way to get your live soccer fix for the weekend, so why not get out to the RSC and give the lads some support, which will be much appreciated!
In other news, Waterford United have been informed that the home fixture against Finn Harps due to take place on Friday October 8, will now be played on Saturday, October 9th with a 7.00pm kick-off.
Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
