Waterford United 3 - 2 Salthill Devon

A brace from Ben Ryan inspired Waterford United as they picked up three points in the RSC on Saturday night with a 3-2 win against a hard working Salthill Devon side.

The Blues will feel they deserved their win, but Salthill Devon, and Enda Curran particularly, will feel it is lost points for the visitors. The opening half hour had little in the way of action with the home side looking most likely to open the scoring. Conor Coad’s header forced Ronan Forde into a good save before Jack Doherty’s volley went high over the visitor’s crossbar.

And after a quiet start to the game, Salthill Devon took the lead on 34 minutes through Enda Curran. Peter White fouled Curran in the penalty area and Curran himself fired the penalty past Craig Hyland.

The lead lasted just three minutes though as Cian Fadden fouled Conor Coad 30 yards from goal. Ben Ryan stood over the free kick and fired the ball over the Devon wall and into the bottom corner. And just a minute before half time The Blues turned the game on its head and took the lead. Peter White did well down the right wing to cross for Ben Ryan, and he finished past Forde at the second attempt.

Salthill Devon levelled the game three minutes into the second half with a sublime finish from Curran. Dylan Mernagh lost possession 35 yards from goal after a ball from Conor Coad put the centre half under pressure, and despite getting goalside of Curran again, Mernagh was helpless to prevent Curran from firing brilliantly past Hyland.

But the Blues fought back and regained the lead once again before the hour mark.  Jack Doherty fired in a right wing corner toward goal and Vinny Sullivan rose highest to head past Forde.

Devon substitute Derek O’Brien began to cause problems for Peter White down his left side as he easily passed the full back to cross for Enda Curran, but the striker saw both of his efforts from close range blocked by the Blues defence.

Vinny Sullivan came very close to putting the home side further in front with twenty minutes to go, but after Jack Doherty’s through ball, Sullivan could only hit the side netting. Sullivan went closer for the Blues again minutes later but he headed over from Ben Ryan’s corner kick.

Salthill Devon almost got their leveller with twelve minutes left. Enda Curran manoeuvred his way around the Blues defence and was in on goal, but a last gasp challenge from Michael Coady kept him out.

With four minutes to go, Curran went agonisingly close to grabbing an equaliser, but his header dropped inches wide of the far post, with Blues keeper Hyland rooted to the centre of his goal.

Philip Drohan almost grabbed a debut goal for the home side but after good work Daragh Walshe, Drohan pulled his strike across the front of the goal. The home side created the better chances in the game, but Enda Curran’s late chance could have spoiled the party for Waterford United. Devon performed well and will take a lot of positives from the game.

Waterford United: Craig Hyland; Peter White, Gavin Kavanagh, Dylan Mernagh, Michael Coady; Aidan McGrath (Philip Drohan 57) , Ben Ryan, Conor Coad, Jack Doherty; Vinny Sullivan, Paul Quilty (Daragh Walshe 77).
Substitutes not used: Chip Sanders, Francis Rockett, Peter Higgins, Conor Whittle.

Bookings: Jack Doherty (16), Peter White (79)

Salthill Devon: Ronan Forde; Colm Horgan, Jamie McGlynn (Derek O’Brien 57), Robbie Gaul, Cian Fadden; Mike Harty, Willie Enubele, Jean Biansumba (Mikey Gilmore 70), Stephen Rudden; Enda Curran, Jakub Tomanica (Danny Campion 91).
Subs not used: .

Bookings: Cian Fadden (36), Willie Enubele (64).

Referee: Jim McKell.

Attendance: 208.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Ben Ryan (Waterford United).