Friendly Report: Waterford 2 - 2 Shelbourne

Waterford and Shelbourne played out a four-goal pre-season friendly draw as both sides continued preparation for their respective league campaigns later this month.

A John Kavanagh own goal and Davy O'Sullivan's penalty put the visitors 2-0 up going into the break, but a goal on the stroke of half-time from Ismahil Akinade and a late strike from Gavan Holohan earned Waterford a draw.

Waterford had a good early chance for the opener down their right side. Matthew Connor’s kick was flicked on by the head of Dean O’Halloran to Akinade. He made a run down the right before squaring but the on-rushing Derek Daly couldn’t reach the driven cross.

Sander Puri was next to threaten; his run from the middle opened space but he couldn’t find the target.

Shelbourne had a chance of their own on 15 minutes. Dayle Rooney provided the curling cross that found the head of O’Sullivan but it dropped wide of Connor’s near post.

The visitors went even closer two minutes later. Gavin Boyne picked up possession just outside the Waterford penalty box and he forced Connor into a smart save to touch the ball onto the post.

Shelbourne keeper Dean Delany pulled off a great save after 25 minutes to keep the home side out. O’Halloran’s whipped free kick from the left was met by the head of central defender David Webster but the netminder produced an excelled low save.

Four minutes later Shelbourne took the lead. Webster’s headed backpass was left short and James English nipped in. He rounded keeper Connor before seeing his effort deflected into the back of the net by Waterford defender John Kavanagh as he looked to clear.

That lead was doubled just before half time. John Kavanagh fouled Rooney in the penalty area and O’Sullivan made no mistake to make it 2-0 from the spot.

But back came the home side as O’Halloran intercepted an attempted backpass to Delany minutes later. He found Akinade and he put the ball through the legs of Delany to get the Blues on the scoresheet.

A mistake from Blues defender Kenny Browne allowed O’Sullivan a strike on goal in the second half but Matthew Connor was equal to the effort, before Connor saved from Adam Evans’ effort minutes later.

Waterford did level with 11 minutes left on the clock. Gavan Holohan picked the ball up 20 yards from goal and struck brilliantly low past Shels’ sub keeper Steacy to make it 2-2.

The Blues had chances to grab a winner in the final minutes but settled for a 2-2 draw in their final pre-season match.

Waterford: Matthew Connor (Niall Corbet 62); John Kavanagh (Rory Feely 62), David Webster, Kenny Browne, Patrick McClean (Dylan Barnett); Dean O’Halloran (Dean Walsh 68), Bastien Hery, Sander Puri, Gavan Holohan, Derek Daly; Ismahil Akinade.

Subs not used: Darryl Walsh, Shane Griffin,

Shelbourne: Dean Delany (Lee Steacy 75); James Brown, David Mulcahy, Arran Molloy (Derek Prendergast HT), Lorcan Fitzgerald (James Woods 68); Adam Evans, Gavan Boyne (Cian Kavanagh 80), Mark Hughes (James O’Brien HT), Dayle Rooney (Dylan Grimes 73); James English (Jamie Doyle 73), David O’Sullivan

Referee: Andrew Mullally.

Attendance: 400 (estimate).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Adam Evans (Shelbourne).