Mervue United  0 – 0  Waterford United

Waterford United were tonight held to a scoreless draw by Mervue United at Fahy’s Field.

The Blues created several chances in either half but were unable to find a way past the Mervue rearguard. Gary Dempsey, Sean Maguire and Paul Phelan all went close early on, and Daragh Walshe, on his return from injury, was proving a handful up front. Mervue were restricted to a couple of headers over the top in the ten minutes before the end of the opening period, but the Blues also had chances to lead going into the break during that time, Craig Burns heading just over at the near post from a 38th minute corner, and Maguire volleying wildly over the top just before half time.

Chances were exchanged early in the second half as first Peter White fired wide after neat approach work from Gary Dempsey and Sean Maguire, and almost immediately at the other end Jason Molloy volleyed into the side netting. Mervue sub Alan Murphy went closest for the home side on 76 minutes, firing over the top with almost his first touch of the game, but either side of that Daragh Walshe saw two chances go a-begging: first Mark Ludden got across to clear his close range effort from Paul Phelan’s cross, and then the big striker poked wide after being set up by Dempsey. The Blues piled on the pressure in the closing stages, but were unable to force the opening they needed, and in the end had to settle for a single point.

Mervue: Brian O’Donoghue, Damian O’Rourke, Barry McEntee, Mark Ludden, Kenny Farrell, Etanda Nkololo (Tom King 64), Jason Molloy, Alex Lee, Shane Keogh (Alan Murphy 75), Noel Varley, Pat Hoban – subs: Philip Keegan, Conor Gleeson, Peter Dravins, Kevin Crehan, Michael Collins

Booked: Keogh, Lee, Hoban

Blues: Packie Holden; Paul Carey, Craig Burns, Dylan Mernagh, John Frost; Ben Ryan, Peter White, Gary Dempsey, Paul Phelan; Daragh Walshe, Sean Maguire – subs: Sean Whitty, Peter Higgins, Peter Keegan, Gary Dunphy, Conor Coad, Jack Doherty, Willie John Kiely

Booked: none

Referee: Rhona Daly