Waterford United ran out comfortable 3-0 winners in Cahermoneen on Saturday afternoon against Tralee Dynamos of the A Championship. There were debuts for Chris Konopka and Liam Kearney with Timmy Purcell also coming on as a half-time substitute. Kearney turned in a Man of the Match performance delivering excellent crosses with both feet and creating two goals.

The Blues travelled with just a 14 man squad, but were rarely troubled by the Kerrymen. Kevin Murray captained the side and his defence was aided by the commanding presence of American ‘keeper Konopka.

The Blues broke the deadlock in the 40th minute when Kearney beat his man on the left, reached the endline and pulled the ball back to Paul McCarthy who finished to the bottom right corner. McCarthy was having a fine game on his return after an 8 month absence through injury.

Stephen Henderson made two changes at half-time with Vinny Sullivan and ex-UCD striker Purcell replacing Willie John Kiely and Seamus Long. Sullivan missed a good chance with a header after 58 minutes, but he made amends just a minute later. Again, Kearney got to the end line and crossed to the back post where the Dungarvan man rose highest to head home the Blues’ second.

United made further changes when Kiely and Long came back on for Kearney and David Grincell, and young Josh Byrne made his senior debut replacing Konopka. The Blues wrapped the game up in the 75th minute with skipper Murray finishing right-footed after a goalmouth scramble following a Purcell corner.

Overall, it was an impressive way for United to shake off the close season cobwebs and Stephen Henderson thanked the 15 or so travelling Blues fans.

Line-up: Chris Konopka; Alan Carey, Seamus Long, Kevin Murray, Kevin Waters; Paul Carey, Paul McCarthy, Gary Dunphy, Liam Kearney; Willie John Kiely, David Grincell

Subs: Vinny Sullivan and Timmy Purcell for Long and Kiely (half-time), Josh Byrne for Konopka (70 mins), rolling subs used late on.

[report compiled by several of those travelling faithful!]