Sporting Fingal 1 - 4 Waterford United
Credit:
Waterford United have moved to the top of the League of Ireland first
division after a 4-1 demolition of their promotion rivals Sporting
Final at Morton Stadium. Goals from Kenny Brown, Graham Cummins and a
brace from Willie John Kiely completed a miserable night for Liam
Buckley’s men despite them taking an early lead thanks to Eamon Zayed.
The Blues had defender Seamus Long sent off but even red card couldn’t
take the shine off a brilliant comeback.
The home side made the best possible start when they took the lead with only 36 seconds on the clock. Alan Kirby took a quick free kick in the centre circle to Conan Byrne while Waterford full back Seamus Long went asleep. Byrne’s low cross was met by Zayed who steered the ball into the top corner for his seventh goal this season..
Waterford didn’t have long to wait to draw level however and it was no surprise that it came through their top scorer Willie John Kiely in the 15th minute. Long atoned for his earlier error when he played a long searching ball into the striker. Kiely found half a yard between the Fingal centre backs and managed to pull the ball out of the air with a great first touch. The striker shrugged off the challenges of both Gannon and Whelan before smashing his left footed volley past Quigley and into the top corner..
Sporting responded immediately and almost restored the lead eight minutes later following a trademark piece of Alan Kirby dribbling. The midfielder skipped around three challenges before playing a through ball to Conan Byrne. Blues keeper Michael Devine was quick off his line however to narrow the angle and make the save. Devine was almost embarrassed minutes later when Shaun Williams tried an audacious chip but his effort was lacking in accuracy..
Waterford took the lead in the 39th minute when John Kearney found himself free down the left wing but is first time cross missed everyone in the middle. The ball was retrieved by John Waters on the edge of the box who cleverly played it back into the dangerzone where it was met by the head of the inrushing Cummins who looped his header over Quigley for his eighth league goal of the season..
Cummins’ pace was causing the Fingal back four huge problems all night and it came as now surprise that he had a hand in the third goal for the Blues on 71 mins. The striker did well in the left channel to beat the home side’s offside and win a corner against Gannon. Alan Carey’s delivery was met on the volley by Seamus Long who drilled his shot low into the middle of the box. The full back’s shot wasn’t going on target but it was swept in by Kenny Browne..
Waterford compounded the misery on Liam Buckley in the 77th minute when Cummins won a flick on header that seemed like it would be easily cleared by John Frost. The defender hesitated however and allowed Kiely to step in and slot the ball into the net for his tenth goal of the campaign. Stephen Henderson’s night was soured a minute later when Seamus Long was sent off for pulling down Kirby as the midfielder advanced on goal but the game was already finished as a contest as The Blues go top for the first time this season..
Waterford manager Stephen Hendesron feels that “It epitomises everything about this side. It’s a big step forwards for the lads in terms of confidence. To go out and beat a top three rival especially Fingal by 4-1 its huge”.
Sporting Fingal: Quigley, James (Fitzgerald), Frost, Williams, Gannon, Whelan, Byrne (Boyd), McFaul, Zayed, Kirby, Gaynor. .
Waterford United: Devine, Long, Murray, Browne, Carey, Kearney, Waters, Fitzgerald, McCarthy (Woodgate), Cummins (Grincell), Kiely.
The home side made the best possible start when they took the lead with only 36 seconds on the clock. Alan Kirby took a quick free kick in the centre circle to Conan Byrne while Waterford full back Seamus Long went asleep. Byrne’s low cross was met by Zayed who steered the ball into the top corner for his seventh goal this season..
Waterford didn’t have long to wait to draw level however and it was no surprise that it came through their top scorer Willie John Kiely in the 15th minute. Long atoned for his earlier error when he played a long searching ball into the striker. Kiely found half a yard between the Fingal centre backs and managed to pull the ball out of the air with a great first touch. The striker shrugged off the challenges of both Gannon and Whelan before smashing his left footed volley past Quigley and into the top corner..
Sporting responded immediately and almost restored the lead eight minutes later following a trademark piece of Alan Kirby dribbling. The midfielder skipped around three challenges before playing a through ball to Conan Byrne. Blues keeper Michael Devine was quick off his line however to narrow the angle and make the save. Devine was almost embarrassed minutes later when Shaun Williams tried an audacious chip but his effort was lacking in accuracy..
Waterford took the lead in the 39th minute when John Kearney found himself free down the left wing but is first time cross missed everyone in the middle. The ball was retrieved by John Waters on the edge of the box who cleverly played it back into the dangerzone where it was met by the head of the inrushing Cummins who looped his header over Quigley for his eighth league goal of the season..
Cummins’ pace was causing the Fingal back four huge problems all night and it came as now surprise that he had a hand in the third goal for the Blues on 71 mins. The striker did well in the left channel to beat the home side’s offside and win a corner against Gannon. Alan Carey’s delivery was met on the volley by Seamus Long who drilled his shot low into the middle of the box. The full back’s shot wasn’t going on target but it was swept in by Kenny Browne..
Waterford compounded the misery on Liam Buckley in the 77th minute when Cummins won a flick on header that seemed like it would be easily cleared by John Frost. The defender hesitated however and allowed Kiely to step in and slot the ball into the net for his tenth goal of the campaign. Stephen Henderson’s night was soured a minute later when Seamus Long was sent off for pulling down Kirby as the midfielder advanced on goal but the game was already finished as a contest as The Blues go top for the first time this season..
Waterford manager Stephen Hendesron feels that “It epitomises everything about this side. It’s a big step forwards for the lads in terms of confidence. To go out and beat a top three rival especially Fingal by 4-1 its huge”.
Sporting Fingal: Quigley, James (Fitzgerald), Frost, Williams, Gannon, Whelan, Byrne (Boyd), McFaul, Zayed, Kirby, Gaynor. .
Waterford United: Devine, Long, Murray, Browne, Carey, Kearney, Waters, Fitzgerald, McCarthy (Woodgate), Cummins (Grincell), Kiely.
