Cork City FORAS Co-op  0 - 2  Waterford United

Waterford United somewhat ruined the party as they left Turner’s Cross with a full haul of points tonight. With the Cork football public turning out in huge numbers to get behind their new-look team, it was always going to be a spectacle, but the Blues travelled with their manager’s midweek words ringing in their ears. “This is not about FORAS, this is about Waterford United getting three points.”

The Blues made three changes to the side that won so convinvingly last weekend. And with the game delayed by ten minutes to allow the phenomenal crowd of just under 5000 to make their way into the ground, it was United who seemed to deal better with the occasion in the opening period. Only seven minutes in, superb work from Liam Kearney and Willie John Kiely allowed Gareth Cambridge a sight of goal, but his shot whistled just over the top. Moments later though, the home side were almost gifted an opener, as Chris Konopka’s attempted throw to the Blues’ right midfielder landed on the head of Davin O’Neill, but he couldn’t make anything of the opportunity.

That was to be the home side’s only chance of the half, and with the United midfield of Gary Dunphy and Paul McCarthy driving the visitors on, it wasn’t long before the scoring was opened. Vinny Sullivan was sent tumbling in the area by Eoin Forde as a right wing cross came in, and, as last weekend, Alan Carey stepped up to drive the spot kick down the middle. With Kevin Murray in imperious form at the back, the Blues comfortably saw the game out to the half time break.

Cork came out of the dressing rooms a much more determined side, and, pushing an extra man into attack, they quickly had the visitors on the back foot. Almost upon the restart Ian Turner had Konopka scurrying across goal to see his 30-yard effort wide, and minutes later Stephen Mulcahy saw his shot from a corner kick melee blocked away. But, pushing forward, they left themselves open to the counter attack, and on the hour mark that was exactly what transpired, as Sullivan finished a rapid breakout to make it 2-0 with a stunning strike, slamming home John Kearney’s pinpoint crossfield ball to the roof of the Cork net.

United went close once more on 73 minutes, when the Conna man deftly set Kiely up to almost cap a tidy performance, but he was marginally off target with his effort, and promptly made way for David Grincell, though in fairness that move had already been ordained. Cork continued to push forward, but left the Blues free to counter each time, and on 82 minutes Grincell was caught with a nasty elbow by Greg O’Halloran as he tried to break clear, resulting in a straight red card for the home player.

Grincell almost got on the scoresheet himself into injury time, as sub James O’Sullivan turned superbly and almost set up his young teammate, but it remained at 2-0, and in truth the Blues could be more than happy with that scoreline, and with the performance which was mature, assured, and very, very impressive.

Cork: Mark McNulty, Ian Turner, Dave Rogers, Stephen Mulcahy, Greg O’Halloran, Willie Heffernan (Dave Warren 86), Shane Duggan, Cillian Lordan, Eoin Forde, Davin O’Neill, Graham Cummins (Paul Deasy 66) - subs: Michael Devine, Padraig Clancy, John Dineen

Booked: Rogers, Heffernan

Sent Off: O’Halloran 82

Waterford: Chris Konopka; Alan Carey, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, John Kearney; Gareth Cambridge (Timmy Purcell 77), Gary Dunphy, Paul McCarthy (James O’Sullivan 86), Liam Kearney; Willie John Kiely (David Grincell 73), Vinny Sullivan – subs: John Hayes, Kevin Waters

Goals: Carey 29 pen, Sullivan 60

Booked: L Kearney, Dunphy

Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Team Bulletin
Cork City FORAS Co-op v Waterford United at Turner’s Cross
Friday, March 12th, 2010 (KO 7.45pm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Match Preview: 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waterford United will be looking to build on a flying start to the 2010 campaign when they make the trip to Turner’s Cross to take on the new Cork City FORAS Co-op this Friday night (KO 7.45pm).
The Blues really hit the ground running last weekend, knocking three past local rivals Wexford Youths for no reply, and somewhat unfortunate not to have had more, albeit aided by the Youths reduction to ten men for three quarters of the game. Manager Stephen Henderson was delighted with the efficient way his team went about their business, however, especially in the goal scoring department, an area in which some have suggested the team might expect to struggle. But, with a goal each for the starting forwards, and sub David Grincell winning a penalty for the third, Waterford’s strike force has started as well as anyone could have asked.
 
And so, with a confidence-boosting first match under their belt, United head to Cork for something of a journey into the unknown. Cork have had their much-publicised troubles, of course, and not very long to assemble a squad for the First Division, but the Blues boss is under no illusions as to the scale of the task. In last year’s top scorer at the RSC, Graham Cummins, and the much sought after Davin O’Neill, the new club have a formidable front line, to add to quality players throughout the side. And though it’s not that long since the Cross was a happy hunting ground for the Blues, in recent games the plaudits have all gone to the home team.
 
So whatever way you call it, an intriguing game awaits. Henderson will have a full squad to select from, with no injuries and no suspensions to worry about.

Henderson Quotes: 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the Wexford match:
“We were all saying during the week that it was important to get a good start to the league and get three points on the board, so in that regard it’s a great night.”
“I think it was also important to get three goals as well and though it could have been more, we’ll take three goals and three points.”
“I know people were wondering before the start of the season where we are going to get the goals from, but as you saw tonight, Vinny and Willie John took their goals well, and when other players like Liam Kearney, Paul McCarthy, David Grincell and Timmy Purcell chip in with more we’ll be grand in that department.”
“I think we’re blessed to have two excellent centre forwards in Willie [John Kiely] and Vinny [Sullivan] but also I was impressed with David Grincell when he came on tonight. We’ve worked very hard with him in pre-season and he looked a serious threat when he came on so it’s good to see.”
“He [Liam Kearney] is a little wizard. He really came out in the second half and showed his true class, he was brilliant. I think he showed a lot of people what he is capable of.”
 
 
On the upcoming Cork game:
 
“We’ve got a completely different test against Cork. People are saying it’s going to be a great occasion but we’re not there to play an occasion, we’re there to play a soccer match, and it’s really important that the players and the supporters understand that.”
“Next Friday isn’t about Cork FORAS, it’s about Waterford United trying to get three points, and we have to remain focussed on that.”
“A lot of nonsense is being spoken about the new Cork team being weak, but that will not be the case. [They] will be right up there with Shelbourne, Derry City and ourselves, believe me, so will will go there expecting a tough game.”

Suspensions & Injuries:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Suspensions:
none
 
Injuries:
none

Top Scorers (League):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
1 – Alan Carey
1 – Vinny Sullivan
1 – Willie John Kiely
 
 
Top Scorers (Pre-Season):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
7 – Vinny Sullivan
2 – Paul McCarthy
1 – Alan Carey
1 – Gary Keane
1 – Kevin Murray
1 – Timmy Purcell
1 – Willie John Kiely
(& 2 own goals)

Recent Form:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Last Match:
Waterford United    3 – 0    Wexford Youths
(Sullivan 7, Kiely 54, A Carey 71 pen)
 
Form:
WWLDWW W

Head-to-Head (as Cork City):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
25 Sep 07  FAIC   Cork City  v  Waterford United    4 – 0
22 Sep 07  FAIC   Waterford United  v  Cork City    1 – 1
24 Aug 07     L     Waterford United  v  Cork City    0 – 3
17 Jul 07      L     Cork City  v  Waterford United    2 – 0
09 Mar 07     L     Waterford United  v  Cork City    1 – 0
03 Nov 06     L     Cork City  v  Waterford United    4 – 1
05 Aug 06     L     Waterford United  v  Cork City    0 – 0
05 May 06     L     Cork City  v  Waterford United    2 – 0

Betting:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Cork: 15/8
Waterford: 5/4
Draw: 21/10

Results This Season:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
05 Mar 10     h     Waterford United  3 – 0  Wexford Youths (ALFD)
 
27 Feb 10     a     Sporting Fingal  1 – 3  Waterford United (Fr)
24 Feb 10     a     West Waterford / East Cork League XI  0 – 6  Waterford United (Fr)
20 Feb 10     h     Waterford United  0 – 0  St Patrick’s Athletic (Fr)
17 Feb 10     a     Tramore AFC  2 – 1  Waterford United (Fr)
10 Feb 10     a     Cork Oscar Traynor XI  0 – 3  Waterford United (Fr)
06 Feb 10     a     Tralee Dynamos  0 – 3  Waterford United (Fr)

Next 6 Matches:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
19 Mar 10     h     Derry City (ALFD)
27 Mar 10     a     Salthill Devon (ALFD)
03 Apr 10     a     Mervue United (ALFD)
09 Apr 10     h     Limerick FC (ALFD)
16 Apr 10     a     Monaghan United (ALFD)
23 Apr 10     a     Finn Harps (ALFD)

With a large crowd expected at Turner’s Cross for the first Munster Derby of the season, Cork City Foras Co-Op have issued some important safety and security information for Waterford United fans heading to the game.

The Blues’ supporters will be placed in the St Anne’s stand located behind the goal furthest from the main entrance.

Entry point to the stadium will be from Saint Anne’s Road. Access to these gates is via Beaufort Park which is at the side of the Horseshoe Inn Bar.

Separate refreshment and catering units will be in place.

Please be aware of heightened security regarding flares and smoke bombs,

Anyone caught in possession or using such devices will be immediately handed to the Gardai.

Waterford United’s  event control team will be on site to ensure adequate provisions are in place for away supporters.

Waterford United willonce again face a trek to the kingdom when they begin their 2010 EA Sports Cup campaign, after the draw was made in Dublin today. The Blues will take on the Kerry League in the opening round at Mounthawk Park in Tralee and they will seek to gain revenge for their penalty kick defeat in 2008!  After the exploits of last season, which culminated in a final defeat at the hands of Bohemians, Stephen Henderson will be looking for one step more this season, and will look forward to the competition that kicks off at the end of the month.

A record 29 teams have entered for this year’s cup and with a prospective meeting with Tralee Dynamos awaiting the winners of the first round, there is plenty at stake for both sides.

Six clubs were awarded byes until the Second Round as a result of having qualified for European competition or their participation in the Setanta Sports Cup, with the remaining clubs entering the draw for the preliminary and first rounds of the tournament.

The full draw is as follows:

POOL 1

First Round

Kerry League                          v          Waterford United
Limerick                                    v          Cobh Ramblers
Wexford Youths                    v          Cork City Foras Co-op

Bye: Tralee Dynamos

Second Round

Wexford Youths / Cork City Foras Co-op     v          Limerick / Cobh Ramblers
Kerry League / Waterford United                  v          Tralee Dynamos

POOL 2

Preliminary Round

Castlebar Celtic                       v          Salthill Devon

First Round

Derry City                                               v          Galway United
Castlebar Celtic / Salthill Devon     v          Finn Harps
Mervue United                                    v          Letterkenny Rovers

Bye: Sligo Rovers

Second Round

Sligo Rovers                                         v          Mervue United / Letterkenny Rovers
Derry City / Galway United           v          Castlebar Celtic / Salthill Devon / Finn Harps

POOL 3

Preliminary Round

Athlone Town                         v          Longford Town

First Round

UCD                                              v          Athlone Town / Longford Town
Drogheda United                    v          Bray Wanderers

Byes: Shamrock Rovers and St. Patrick’s Athletic

Second Round

St. Patrick’s Athletic                                            v          Drogheda United / Bray Wanderers
UCD / Athlone Town / Longford Town        v          Shamrock Rovers

POOL 4

Preliminary Round

Monaghan United                   v          Shelbourne
Tullamore Town                       v          FC Carlow

First Round

Monaghan United / Shelbourne          v          Tullamore Town / FC Carlow [Match A]

Second Round

Winner Match A                     v          Bohemians
Dundalk                                      v          Sporting Fingal

Fixture schedule:

Preliminary Round: Monday 29^th / Tuesday 30^th March
First Round: Monday 12^th / Tuesday 13^th April
Second Round: Monday 10^th / Tuesday 11^th May

Waterford United  3 – 0  Wexford Youths

Waterford United got their 2010 League campaign off to a flying start at the RSC on Friday night, with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over an out-of-sorts Wexford Youths.

After a lively start, the Blues took an early lead through the in-form Vinny Sullivan. The tall striker continued his hot pre-season streak as he timed his run to perfection to pick up Timmy Purcell’s clever low through-ball into the area, and skipped around Packie Holden to roll home inside the near post on seven minutes. Purcell went close to setting up a second moments later when a viciously spinning cross from the right was almost diverted into his own net by David Breen, but Holden was alert to the danger.

The Youths did have an early sight of goal through a well struck 25-yard Shane Dempsey snap-shot, but in truth they were already struggling in the early exchanges when their task became well nigh impossible on 20 minutes, as Warren Broaders saw a straight red card for a two-footed lunge on Kevin Murray. Down to ten men and with both centre halves carrying knocks (Anthony Wolfe was not to see out the first period), the visitors’ defence was to be in for a torrid night, typified by Dean Broaders – no relation – backtracking to hurriedly hook a low Liam Kearney cross just over his own crossbar.

Minutes later Willie John Kiely almost got in on the end of a Purcell pass, but Holden was out bravely to save at his feet, and, with a swift restart, sent play up the other end where Wexford almost snatched an unlikely equaliser. Chris Konopka’s weak clearance fell to Gary Sheahan, but his quick return caught team mate Danny Furlong totally on the hop, and he couldn’t get the ball out from under his feet to shoot cleanly. The Blues reacted well to the wake up call, and Sullivan, Kevin Murray and Paul McCarthy all went close from close range before the half-time whistle.

Unchanged after the break, United weren’t long about doubling their advantage when, on the 54 minute mark, Kiely got onto the end of McCarthy’s neat ball down the left channel, skipped past Aidan McCann, and bore down on goal, foxing Holden into moving the wrong way and then clipping home at the near post. The Abbeyside striker could have doubled his tally almost immediately, as he sprung the offside trap onto a ball over the top, but in turn hooked it over his shoulder and the crossbar. Just on the hour, Kearney, giving an examplary performance, fired in a dangerous cross that a helpless Broaders was relieved to see deflect inches wide of his far post.

With United pushing on the feeling was that another goal was coming, and it duly arrived on 71 minutes, when sub David Grincell was brought crashing down in the box by McCann as he raced clear onto McCarthy’s slide rule pass, and Alan Carey stepped up to rifle home to the roof of the net from the spot. The Youths might have folded at that stage, but to their credit they kept trying to get forward, and created a couple of half chances for themselves late on: Jimmy Keohane firing over the top when well placed, and Furlong sending a looping header just wide of the far post, but it was United who looked most likely to score again.

Into the last ten minutes, great approach work from Kearney set up Grincell to force a fine close range block out of Holden, and then Sullivan ghosted in onto a magical reverse pass from the Conna man that disected the defence, but he shot narrowly wide of the far post. Right at the death Gary Dunphy came closest of all, as an immaculately struck 30-yard drive came crashing back off the crossbar, which really would have been a suitable way to cap an excellent opening team performance.

Waterford United: Chris Konopka; Alan Carey, John Hayes, Kevin Murray, Kevin Waters; Timmy Purcell (Gareth Cambridge 67), Paul McCarthy, Seamus Long (Gary Dunphy 80), Liam Kearney; Vinny Sullivan, Willie John Kiely (David Grincell 67) - subs: Paul Carey, James O’Sullivan

Goals: Sullivan 7, Kiely 54, A Carey 71 pen

Booked: Long

Wexford Youths: Packie Holden, Anthony Russell, Warren Broaders, David Breen, Anthony Wolfe (Aidan McCann 36), Patsy Malone (Chris Kenny 78), Dean Broaders, Shane Dempsey, Danny Furlong (Lee Aust 85), Gary Sheahan, Jimmy Keohane – subs: Pa Doyle, John Byrne

Booked: Furlong, Russell, McCann

Sent Off: W Broaders 21

Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork)

In the new-look programme for the new season:

Brendan White surveys the task ahead for United,

Brian Kennedy looks back on, em, a version of football history,

Bluebeard explains the origins of part of his moniker,

Tom Flynn talks to one Blues hero,

and Niall Doherty looks back on the career of another.

All this and the usual mix of news and information in this Friday night’s match programme!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Team Bulletin
Waterford United v Wexford Youths at the RSC
Friday, March 5th, 2010 (KO 7.45pm)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
 
Match Preview: 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Waterford United get the 2010 season underway with a local derby against Wexford Youths at the RSc this Friday night (KO 7.45pm).

After a fruitful pre-season, the Blues are anxious to hit the ground running when the campaign starts in earnest, and ultimately improve on last year when, still fighting on all fronts, they just ran out of steam in the closing stages. Manager Stephen Henderson is confident his new-look United side is set up to do just that. Though Michael Devine, Kenny Browne and Graham Cummins have headed out the RSC gates in the close season, the squad has been boosted by the arrivals of Chris Konopka, John Hayes, Gareth Cambridge, Timmy Purcell and Liam Kearney. With 16 goals scored and three conceded in their six games in the warm-up, the gaffer is happy with the standards set so far.
 
Waterford have a good record against the next-door neighbours, with five wins and two draws in their eight competitive meetings to date. However, they won’t need reminding that the one loss to the Slaneysiders came in the most recent match at the RSC, in May 2009, and, added to the scoreless encounter at Ferrycarrig in September, is evidence that the ever-improving Youths will provide a stern opening test for the home team.
 
Henderson will have to plan without influential full back John Kearney, serving a carry-over suspension from last season. Midfielder Paul MCarthy has been carrying an ankle knock during the week, but is expected to be fit.

Henderson Quotes: 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Our pre-season was excellent, the lads worked extremely hard, and we feel they are at their maximum fitness levels with the exception of a couple who either came in late or picked up injuries.”

“We feel we have competition for places in all areas, and this should give the lads who currently have the starting jerseys the incentive to perform every week.”
“Football managers will always be judged on what they achieved, not what they nearly achieved, so last season was not a success in my eyes.”
“Being so close to winning so many different competitions last season has left us very determined to do it right this time.”
“We need to start the season well and improve on our home form from last year.”

Suspensions & Injuries:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Suspensions:
John Kearney – 1 match (8 yellow cards)
 
Injuries:
Paul McCarthy – ankle, very slight doubt

Top Scorers (Pre-Season):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
7 – Vinny Sullivan
2 – Paul McCarthy
1 – Alan Carey
1 – Gary Keane
1 – Kevin Murray
1 – Timmy Purcell
1 – Willie John Kiely
(& 2 own goals)

Recent Form (Pre-Season):
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Last Match:
Sporting Fingal    1 – 3    Waterford United
                                  (Sullivan, A Carey, McCarthy)
 
Form (Pre-Season):
WWLDWW

Head-to-Head:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
04 Sep 09   L   Wexford Youths  v  Waterford United    0 – 0
30 May 09   L   Waterford United  v  Wexford Youths    1 – 2
13 Mar 09   L   Wexford Youths  v  Waterford United    0 – 1
19 Sep 08   L   Waterford United  v  Wexford Youths    1 – 0
18 Jul 08     L   Wexford Youths  v  Waterford United    1 – 1
09 May 08   L   Waterford Youths  v  Wexford Youths    1 – 0
07 Mar 08   L   Wexford Youths  v  Waterford Youths    1 – 2
02 Apr 07   LC  Waterford United  v  Wexford Youths    3 – 0

Betting:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Waterford: 1/2
Wexford: 13/5
Draw: 5/1

Results This Pre-Season:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
27 Feb 10     a     Sporting Fingal  1 – 3  Waterford United
24 Feb 10     a     West Waterford / East Cork League XI  0 – 6  Waterford United
20 Feb 10     h     Waterford United  0 – 0  St Patrick’s Athletic
17 Feb 10     a     Tramore AFC  2 – 1  Waterford United
10 Feb 10     a     Cork Oscar Traynor XI  0 – 3  Waterford United
06 Feb 10     a     Tralee Dynamos  0 – 3  Waterford United

Next 6 Matches:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
10 Mar 10     a     Cork City (ALFD)
19 Mar 10     h     Derry City (ALFD)
27 Mar 10     a     Salthill Devon (ALFD)
03 Mar 10     a     Mervue United (ALFD)
09 Mar 10     h     Limerick FC (ALFD)
16 Mar 10     a     Monaghan United (ALFD)

Waterford United’s final match of their pre-season programme will now be against Sporting Fingal this Saturday, Feb 27th.

Originally down to play Cork City, that club’s demise left a gap to be filled, and the Ravens came to the rescue last night, providing strong Premier Division opposition, and one final stern test, before the season kicks off in earnest next weekend.

As arrangements were already in place, the game will go ahead in Cahir on Saturday at 3.00pm.

Meanwhile, the Blues enjoyed a comfortable 6-0 victory over a West Waterford / East Cork League selection at Tallow last night.

In a somewhat one-sided first half, the league XI gifted United a two own-goal head start, firstly as a centre back headed a cross to his own net under pressure from Willie John Kiely, and then, in ‘what happened next?’ fashion, when the Abbeyside hitman struck the inside of the post with a rasping low drive, the ball flying across the goal line, cannoning back out off the inside of the other post, to rebound off an inrushing defender and nestle in the net. A hat-trick for Vinny Sullivan, the first capping a flowing nine pass move, and the third set up with a neat ball over the top from Kiely, meant the Blues were five up at half time.

A better display from the home side after the break saw things tightened up considerably. Kevin Burns, deputising for the League selection in the second 45, pulled off a fine save from Kevin Waters’ 30-yard drive, before making way for Josh Byrne to see out the match between the sticks. Late on sub Gary Keane made it six to wrap up the scoring for the Blues.

Team: Chris Konopka; Alan Carey, John Hayes (Paul Carey 60), Kevin Murray, John Kearney (Paul McCarthy 45); Timmy Purcell (Gareth Cambridge 65), Seamus Long, James O’Sullivan (Gary Dunphy 45), Liam Kearney (Kevin Waters 65); Willie John Kiely (Gary Keane 75), Vinny Sullivan (David Grincell 70)

Kevin Burns & Josh Byrne split the 2nd half for the League selection.

At a well attended event at the Munster Bar last night, Morris’ DIY, based in the city, were the first name out of the drum for the second time in as many years, as they secured their place on the back of the 2010 Waterford United shirt.

20 local businesses took part in the draw, and each received a player sponsorship as just one part of the package, the full list is below. A huge, huge thanks to every business that took part in the event, a great show of support in these tough times.

Chris Konopka           Azzurri
Alan Carey                  Perennial Freight
David Grincell           Great Stuff Catering
Gareth Cambridge   McDonalds
John Kearney            Alpha Web Design
Kevin Murray            Tom O’Brien Construction
Kevin Waters             John Thompson Funeral Director
Paul McCarthy          Fitzpatrick’s Manor Lodge Restaurant
Vinny Sullivan           Beautyteam.ie
Willie John Kiely       Snap Printing
Liam Kearney            Clem Jacob Hire
Gary Dunphy              FLI Environmental
Seamus Long              Paul O’Neill Construction
Josh Byrne                  In House
Paul Carey                   Sully’s Snooker Hall
James O’Sullivan       Nivea For Men
John Hayes                  Tower Hotel
Timmy Purcell           Gregory’s Clothes For Men
Kevin Burns                 The Star
Gary Keane                  Morris’ DIY

Waterford United today completed three more signings, as John Hayes, James O’Sullivan and Gary Keane are added to the squad to take the total up to 20 players. The trio all signed deals that will run until the end of the 2010 season.

Blues fans will be delighted to see the return of John Hayes after a year’s leave of absence. Prior to this the popular defender had been with the club since signing from Waterford Bohs in 2004, though he had short loan spells at Kilkenny and Cobh. Versatile in defence, he is comfortable both at right back and his favoured centre back position, as well as defensive midfield. Solid in the tackle and a good reader of the game, John is always prepared to give everything for the cause, and he has put in many inspirational performances in the blue shirt.

Gary Keane moves up from the U-20 ranks this season, on the back of some fine performances last year, where he stood out as having the build and explosive power for the hurly-burly of the League of Ireland, as well as the talent with the ball at his feet. Quick and lively, and with a natural flair for the game, he can play equally as well up front or in midfield.

An attack-minded midfielder of enormous potential, James O’Sullivan is the most recent addition to the Blues fold, joining only last week from Clonmel Town, and playing his first game for United in the recent friendly with St. Pat’s. The Blues are delighted with the acquisition, as the highly rated Tipperary player has been attracting much interest from several quarters, including Pat Fenlon at Bohemians.