Kildare County 0 - 2 Waterford United

Two Graham Cummins goals were enough to move Waterford United up to second place following a hard-fought encounter in Station Road on Saturday evening. Kildare were hoping to get a positive result in this match after their 3-0 victory against Wexford Youths last week, but Cummins broke the deadlock on 59 minutes to set The Blues on their way to a well-earned victory.

Stephen Henderson’s side had started the game in confident fashion and they came close after just four minutes, but Kevin Murray’s goal bound effort was blocked bravely by Liam Tiernan. Waterford continued to have good possession in the opening quarter, but County were defending well and they were finding it difficult to create clear-cut chances with their set-pieces, usually one of the most impressive aspects of their play, proving to be someway short of their usual high standard.

Kildare weren’t completely at sea though and Trevor Bowers, who started on the right-wing, was looking very dangerous right from the start. He had Kildare’s first real opportunity of the game when he found space just inside the box on 12 minutes, but his effort was deflected just wide to the left of Michael Devine’s goal.

However, Waterford would have the best chances of the opening half and were desperately unlucky not to go ahead on 20 minutes when Kevin Waters attempted an audacious chip from just outside the box with County ‘keeper Darren Kelly off his line, but his shot just clipped the top of the crossbar. Though it looked like Kelly may have had it covered, it was still something of a let-off for Joey Somerville’s side.

The visitors would continue to mount the pressure on Kildare for the remainder of the half and front man David Grincell, starting instead of regular striker Willie John Kiely, had two good chances in the space of 60 seconds some seven minutes later. The first chance came when he ran on to a through ball, but Kelly was alert to this and he turned it away. The second opportunity was a much clearer one and the Tramore man really should have hit the target from close-in, but his shot dragged harmlessly wide of the goal.

Had they gone ahead on either of these occasions, it probably would have been justified, even though the hard-working Philly Hughes had the travelling Waterford support on the edge of their seats when his 35-yard drive flew over the bar.

The key to Kildare’s recent good form has been the performances of former Ipswich goalie Darren Kelly and he had to be at his acrobatic best to tip over a Kevin Waters shot from distance on 34 minutes, as well as turning away a Grincell shot with three first-half minutes remaining.

Try as they may, Waterford just couldn’t find a way past the Kildare rearguard and they had to be content going in at the break with the sides tied at 0-0. With both sides having good chances in the opening half, there would be a lot to look forward to in the second period as it was inevitable that one, if not both, defences would begin to tire as the game wore on. The lively Bowers had the first chance after the break when his 30-yard pile driver whizzed just past the post but, as we approached the final half-hour, Waterford started to raise their game and some sloppy play by Darren O’Brien in the middle of the park saw Grincell receiving the ball on the left-wing and he drilled in a low cross which was met by Cummins, who poked the ball through the legs of the stranded Kelly.

This was precisely the right time for Waterford to move into the lead and precisely the wrong time for Kildare to fall behind. Had Kildare kept it even up until the hour mark, Waterford’s confidence may have dropped but instead it was buoyed by Cummins’ 21st goal of the season. Indeed, they probably should have increased their lead almost immediately when Kiely was presented with a glorious chance with his very first touch of the game, but his shot was straight at Kelly and Kildare were able to breathe a sigh of relief.

They almost made it count down the other end of the pitch with efforts from Hughes and Bowers in the 64th and 78th minutes, the latter a terrifically struck drive from 25 yards that was only just kept out by Devine.

As the game entered the final quarter, Waterford introduced some fresh legs and it would pay dividends for them with substitute Kieran Fitzgerald’s cross on 87 minutes being met by a lopping header from Cummins which was carried over the line by the slipping Kelly.

It was really tough on Kelly to concede a goal like this after the game he had, but it should be remembered that there was a lot of rain on Saturday evening and this would not have helped his cause.

After this disappointing result, Kildare will have to pick themselves up for the trip to Tolka Park on August 21st when they face Shelbourne, while Waterford will look to go from strength to strength after this performance.

Kildare County: Darren Kelly; Craig Purcell, Liam Tiernan, Dean Lawrence, David Long; Trevor Bowers, David Jackson, Darren O’Brien, Christy Doran (Colm Daly ‘50); David Lee (Baba Isaaka ‘82), Philly Hughes.
Subs not used: Mattie Byrne, Stuart Cullen, Colin Cassidy.

Waterford United: Michael Devine; Alan Carey, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, Kenny Browne; Stephen Grant (Paul Walsh ‘73), John Kearney, Dave Warren (Kieran Fitzgerald ‘82), Kevin Waters; Graham Cummins, David Grincell (Willie John Kiely ‘59).
Subs not used: Kevin Burns, Paul Carey.

Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare).

Attendance: 150 approx.

Extratime.ie player-of-the-match: Graham Cummins (Waterford United) – Although he was kept quiet for large periods of the game, he came alive when it mattered the most and his brace of goals gave Waterford the three points that they most craved.