Cork City U-20s  0 – 2  Waterford United U-20s

The AOL sponsored Waterford United Under 20 team travelled to Cork on Sunday to play the acclaimed Cork City side whom the young Blues had beaten 4-1 recently at the RSC. Waterford’s attitude and approach to the game was very positive, and, following manager Paul O’Brien’s tactical team talk, the Blues took to the pitch eager for the challenge.

Clive Prendergast

Waterford had the best of the first ten minutes with centre forward Gary Keane doing well, but gradually Cork fought their way back into the game, and had their best chance of the half on 25 minutes, a powerful rising Kieran Kenneally shot, brilliantly tipped over by impressive Blues keeper Josh Byrne. But within minutes Clive Prendergast played a great through ball behind the Cork defence for Ben Ryan to race onto and crack home from 30 yards past the advancing Cork ‘keeper McEnery to give the Blues a 1-0 lead.

Gary Keane had to leave the pitch before half-time, replaced by Kenny Purcell, and the second half proved to be a tough encounter as Cork pressured Waterford looking for the equaliser, but with Byrne, Butler, Gahan, Jacques and Woodgate in fine form, the Blues held out. Ryan Foley, who replaced Prendergast at half time, was doing well out wide, and on 75 minutes Conor Barry replaced the hard working Eoin Burke. At this stage the Blues were gaining in confidence and the midfield of Paul Carey, Andrew Power, Barry and Foley were controlling the game. In the 80th minute Foley skipped past two defenders wide on the left and released Purcell through on goal, where the Cork ‘keeper brought him down for a penalty which Paul Carey slotted home to give the Blues the 2-0 win.

This was another fine display from the AOL sponsored Waterford U-20 squad, and one which nicely sets up their next match against Wexford Youths at Ferrycarrig on Sunday next, a game which now takes on much more significance as Wexford’s recent winning form has moved them up the table to a winning position.

Cork City: K McEnery, E Fitzgerald, B Murphy, J Turner, K Spillane, W Heffernan, R Morrissey, K Kenneally, J Egan, E Forde, L Collins – subs: W Tong, P Legane, A Dunlea, W Bruton, J Drennan
Manager: Liam Murphy

Waterford United: Josh Byrne, Aaron Butler, Kevin Gahan, Declan Woodgate, Eoin Burke (Conor Barry 75), LeoJacques, Clive Prendergast (Ryan Foley 45), Andrew Power, Gary Keane (Kenny Purcell 38), Ben Ryan, Paul Carey – subs: John Whitty, Paul O’Brien, Stephen O’Brien, Jack Poyntz, Moses Okoreafor
Manager: Paul O’Brien

Gary Keane, who was doing well before picking up an injuryAaron Butler, rock solid in the Blues defence