Waterford United 2 - 0 Kildare County
Credit:
With UCD kicking-off an hour later than Waterford tonight, The Blues had a chance to go top of the First Division, for a while at least. They did so through goals from Kevin Waters and Kenny Browne. The home side dominated the game but with Kildare getting plenty of men behind the ball there were very few clear chances.
The first half was a thoroughly one-sided affair. The home side dominated possession and created some decent openings but lacked a killer instinct in front of goal. They had their first chance on four minutes, joint top-scorer Willie John Kiely raced onto John Kearney’s searching ball over the top and lifted the ball over the keeper from just outside of the box, with a defender for company, but the ball dropped wide. The chance was very similar to Kiely’s goal against Mervue last weekend but the 20-year-old was unable to find the net on this occasion. Waterford had another sight of goal in the 12th minute when Kevin Waters escaped down the left but his low cross for Kiely was blocked excellently by Kildare captain Dean Lawrence.
The Blues were well in charge of the game and getting a lot of joy down the flanks, with Joe Mulcahy and Waters being afforded plenty of time on the ball. However the first half continued to pass by without a clear-cut Waterford chance, let alone a goal. Their best chance arrived in the 21st minute and it unsurprisingly came from a set-piece. The lively Waters swung a corner to the back post where Mulcahy was unmarked, but John Flynn in the Kildare goal produced a magnificent save to touch it over the bar. Nine minutes later Mulcahy played a clever through ball to release Kiely just inside the box and the striker quickly rounded the advancing Flynn but his cut back for Cummins was intercepted by Lawrence. Kieran Fitzgerald replaced the injured Paul McCarthy on the half hour mark and there was precious little else of note to report before half-time.
Stephen Henderson was faced with a similar half-time talk to last weekend, when Waterford had dominated the game but failed to find a breakthrough. Once again he didn’t disappoint, his team came out and immediately set about opening the scoring with real intent. In the 47th minute John Kearney drilled a left-foot shot narrowly wide and four minutes later Kiely snatched at a shot just inside the box and sent the ball well over. In the 54th minute though, Waterford had their opening goal. Kiely was played down the right and elected to cut inside rather than take on his man down the wing. Spotting Waters’ back post run, he swept in a terrific left-foot cross for the winger to head powerfully past Kevin McDonnell, who was a half-time replacement for the injured Flynn. The players were visibly relieved and began to play with a bit more freedom. As a result it took just five minutes for The Blues to add a second. Kildare conceded a corner under pressure and Waters turned provider as Kenny Browne rose highest to head into the top corner.
Kildare barely mustered an attack of any note throughout the game and Waterford took their foot off the gas with the result all but secured. Henderson rested Kiely and Kearney for the final 15 minutes and the ref’s whistle ended an unremarkable game which the home side deservedly won.
So with UCD winning in Athlone after this game, Waterford only enjoyed a brief 45 minute stay at the summit of the First Division. Still, with Fingal and Shelbourne slipping up last night, this win gives The Blues some breathing space in second and keeps the pressure on UCD, who welcome Waterford in their next game.
Waterford United: Michael Devine; Seamus Long, Kevin Murray, Kenny Browne, Alan Carey; John Kearney (Gary Dunphy 79), Kevin Waters, Paul McCarthy (Kieran Fitzgerald 30), Joe Mulcahy; Willie John Kiely (David Grincell 76), Graham Cummins. Subs Not Used: Kevin Burns, Declan Woodgate.
Kildare County: John Flynn (Kevin McDonnell 45); Daithi Garry (Matt Byrne 68), Paul Mooney, Dean Lawrence, Colin Osbourne; Colin Murray, Gavin Kinsella, Craig Purcell, Alan Lynch; Cathal Brady, Orrin Farrell. Subs Not Used: David O’ Riordan, Eoin Kavanagh, Matt Murnaghan.
Attendance: 351
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Kevin Waters, was excellent last week and just as good this time out. Gave his man a torrid time and capped his performance with a goal.
The first half was a thoroughly one-sided affair. The home side dominated possession and created some decent openings but lacked a killer instinct in front of goal. They had their first chance on four minutes, joint top-scorer Willie John Kiely raced onto John Kearney’s searching ball over the top and lifted the ball over the keeper from just outside of the box, with a defender for company, but the ball dropped wide. The chance was very similar to Kiely’s goal against Mervue last weekend but the 20-year-old was unable to find the net on this occasion. Waterford had another sight of goal in the 12th minute when Kevin Waters escaped down the left but his low cross for Kiely was blocked excellently by Kildare captain Dean Lawrence.
The Blues were well in charge of the game and getting a lot of joy down the flanks, with Joe Mulcahy and Waters being afforded plenty of time on the ball. However the first half continued to pass by without a clear-cut Waterford chance, let alone a goal. Their best chance arrived in the 21st minute and it unsurprisingly came from a set-piece. The lively Waters swung a corner to the back post where Mulcahy was unmarked, but John Flynn in the Kildare goal produced a magnificent save to touch it over the bar. Nine minutes later Mulcahy played a clever through ball to release Kiely just inside the box and the striker quickly rounded the advancing Flynn but his cut back for Cummins was intercepted by Lawrence. Kieran Fitzgerald replaced the injured Paul McCarthy on the half hour mark and there was precious little else of note to report before half-time.
Stephen Henderson was faced with a similar half-time talk to last weekend, when Waterford had dominated the game but failed to find a breakthrough. Once again he didn’t disappoint, his team came out and immediately set about opening the scoring with real intent. In the 47th minute John Kearney drilled a left-foot shot narrowly wide and four minutes later Kiely snatched at a shot just inside the box and sent the ball well over. In the 54th minute though, Waterford had their opening goal. Kiely was played down the right and elected to cut inside rather than take on his man down the wing. Spotting Waters’ back post run, he swept in a terrific left-foot cross for the winger to head powerfully past Kevin McDonnell, who was a half-time replacement for the injured Flynn. The players were visibly relieved and began to play with a bit more freedom. As a result it took just five minutes for The Blues to add a second. Kildare conceded a corner under pressure and Waters turned provider as Kenny Browne rose highest to head into the top corner.
Kildare barely mustered an attack of any note throughout the game and Waterford took their foot off the gas with the result all but secured. Henderson rested Kiely and Kearney for the final 15 minutes and the ref’s whistle ended an unremarkable game which the home side deservedly won.
So with UCD winning in Athlone after this game, Waterford only enjoyed a brief 45 minute stay at the summit of the First Division. Still, with Fingal and Shelbourne slipping up last night, this win gives The Blues some breathing space in second and keeps the pressure on UCD, who welcome Waterford in their next game.
Waterford United: Michael Devine; Seamus Long, Kevin Murray, Kenny Browne, Alan Carey; John Kearney (Gary Dunphy 79), Kevin Waters, Paul McCarthy (Kieran Fitzgerald 30), Joe Mulcahy; Willie John Kiely (David Grincell 76), Graham Cummins. Subs Not Used: Kevin Burns, Declan Woodgate.
Kildare County: John Flynn (Kevin McDonnell 45); Daithi Garry (Matt Byrne 68), Paul Mooney, Dean Lawrence, Colin Osbourne; Colin Murray, Gavin Kinsella, Craig Purcell, Alan Lynch; Cathal Brady, Orrin Farrell. Subs Not Used: David O’ Riordan, Eoin Kavanagh, Matt Murnaghan.
Attendance: 351
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Kevin Waters, was excellent last week and just as good this time out. Gave his man a torrid time and capped his performance with a goal.
About Dean Hayes
Dean covers Waterford United and, due to a challenge from Gareth, writes in an increasingly Gonzo style. Having found himself with a considerable surplus of a culinary herb, Dean founded sister 'site extrathyme.ie some years … View Full Profile