Proud To Be A Blue

The Last Word by Brendan White

(first published in the October 2009 Kildare County match programme)

The Showgrounds, Friday 23rd October 2009. A Waterford United side took to the field without four first team regulars, and played against all the odds, and matched Premier Division Sligo Rovers for the majority of the match.

For all the effort this team has put in this season, it was a hard cup defeat to take. Cheered on from the first whistle to the last and more afterwards, the lads can hold their heads up high. Every Blues supporter was proud to be there to support this team.

As Blues fans packed into the ground just before the kick off, the starting 11 took to the field hoping for an upset. Previous poor performances are forgotten on Cup nights and League positions and form go out the window. Without the suspended Michael Devine, Alan Carey and Willie John Kiely and the cup-tied Paul Walsh, a patched-up Blues squad set about their task superbly.

Kevin Burns, in for Devine, played out of his skin. An excellent save in the first minutes set the tone for the youngster to shine on the big stage. The Waterford public are safe in the knowledge that behind the scenes, Burns is ready to fill in in the goal, and he took his chance with two hands. The commentator on the day, Damien Richardson, was amazed at how he kept out a second half close range header to keep the Blues in the game.

4000+ in the Showgrounds seemed stunned that the home side were being outplayed by a First Division side. With Kenny Browne and Kevin Murray winning header after header, the Blues gained the upper hand in the first half. Sligo came out a different team in the second half, and got to grips better with the game. Burns kept the Blues in the match on numerous times, saving from a low shot to go with the superb save from the header. But after soaking up attack after attack in the second half, Sligo eventually forced the breakthrough, to which the Blues could never recover.

Over 40 matches already played in all competitions for this Blues squad, as well as training during the week, working in their jobs all week and family life. Travelling from all over the southeast and Cork, and for little money, these players have given their all for the club. Runners up in the EA Sports Cup to double winners Bohemians, semi-finals of the FAI Cup and still battling for promotion along with the winning of the Munster Senior Cup, these Blues players have given 110% all season and deserve huge plaudits for it.

As for Stephen Henderson. A young manager still learning his trade, the Blues are lucky to have such an honest manager within the ranks. Henderson doesn’t often stray from the truth, tells it like he sees it and accepts responsibility when he makes mistakes, mistakes which he will no doubt learn from. Along with all Blues supporters, keeping this manager and this bunch of talented players will be top of the priorities list come the end of the season.