Goals, Goals And More Goals

The Last Word by Brendan White

(first published in the May 2009 Kildare County programme)

This season has seen the Blues in superb form, winning their last 6 matches in a row, with our strike force showing no mercy to opposition defenders. Graham Cummins and Willie John Kiely have been scoring goals for fun this season so far, and with hopefully more to come, their promotion challenge continues.

Last season the Blues’ promotion push faltered at the final hurdles, with the lack of goals contributing to our downfall. The top scorer was Vinny Sullivan. After a 36 matches, he had scored 10 goals. Following him up was Karl Bermingham with seven. Altogether last season, the Blues scored 53 goals in 36 matches. This season sees them already with 18 goals from 9 matches.

The Blues’ three strikers this year are all 21 years old or under. David Grincell, 21, and Willie John Kiely, 20, were both in the team last year. Both finished with 6 goals last season and will hope to score more this season. Graham Cummins joined United this season from Cobh Ramblers. He was signed as a defender and when required, he could also be deployed as a striker. Blues manager Stephen Henderson has said that Cummins didn’t even like playing up front, but having been convinced, he has been fantastic.

After 9 games of the season, two Blues players currently lie jointly on top of the scoring charts, along with UCD’s Ciaran Kilduff. Kiely and Cummins both have 7 goals. Kiely has already eclipsed his total from last season and will hope for more.

Cummins failed to score in Waterford’s opening 5 matches this season. He then steamrolled to the top of the scoring charts with an astonishing 7 goals in just 3 matches, notching 4 goals in United’ 6-0 demolition of Monaghan United. Cummins opened his Blues account with 2 goals away to Finn Harps and added his 7th of the season with a penalty against Limerick.

Kiely’s 7 goals have been scored in 6 different matches this season so far, including the last 3 consecutive games. He scored his first of the season away to Wexford Youths, and followed it up with goals against Athlone, Longford, Monaghan, Limerick and last weekend against Mervue.

David Grincell has been the unfortunate one so far this season. His opportunities have been limited, as he tries to dislodge the in-form Kiely and Cummins from the starting 11, though he did his chances no harm by scoring 2 goals in the recent Munster Senior Cup semi-final. Although yet to score this season in the league, Grincell is sure to take his chances when they arise.

With midfielders Paul McCarthy, Gary Dunphy and Joe Mulcahy also pitching in already, United boast an impressive goals difference of +14. They now lie 2nd in the League of Ireland 1st Division, and with 6 consecutive wins from the last 6 matches, the Blues’ promotion push is well under way.