Waterford United -v- Sporting Fingal
Credit:
Waterford United welcome Sporting Fingal to the RSC on Saturday night (kick-off 7pm) with both teams looking to move within three points of league leaders Shelbourne after the Dublin side went down to Wexford Youths last night.
The opening match of the season saw the sides play out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the RSC, a late Gary Dunphy piledriver cancelled out almost immediately by Philly Byrne's header, but the Blues will take confidence from the return fixture at Morton Stadium back in May, when they came from an early goal down to overrun their hosts and rattle the net four times.
Waterford United lost to fellow promotion rivals UCD last week and will see this game as a prime chance to get their promotion hopes back on track. The defeat saw an eight game unbeaten run come to an end and despite playing against ten men for most of the match, the Blues failed to get the midfield or attack really moving.
Manager Stephen Henderson has sent a simple message to his players.
"I have told the players that they can do one of two things. They can keep their heads down and just plod along until November. On the other hand they can keep their heads up and go out and play the way I know they can and win things, including the league."
"We have 33 points to play for, and we must not leave it all behind us considering we have come so far. We must keep our heads up."
The squad has been buoyed this week by the return of striker Vinny Sullivan to the fold after a half-year absence, boosting the options up front, and he is expected to go straight into the squad for the match. David Grincell and Paul McCarthy remain on the long-term injury list, and a real doubt exists over the availability of inspirational goalkeeper Michael Devine, who sustained a suspected broken toe against the Students. Despite this, Devine is hopeful of being available to play, and will be assessed again closer to kick-off time.
Sporting Fingal’s 2-1 victory at Athlone Town pushed them above the Blues into third place on goal difference, illustrating the closeness of the sides in the promotion battle.
Saturday’s win against Athlone, secured by Conan Byrne’s 16th goal of the season in the second half, was their fifth on the trot.
However, captain and key defender Shaun Maher is unavailable following his dismissal last weekend for two yellow cards while there are injury doubts over Eamon Zayed (calf) and Fiachra McArdle (knee). Recently-signed American goalkeeper Chris Konopka has been granted a work permit and is included in the squad.
Sporting manager Liam Buckley, though disappointed with the loss of Maher for such a crucial game, feels confident that whoever deputises at centre-back will be up to the task.
“I feel it’s no coincidence that our recent winning streak has come when the injury list has cleared up and there’s been a settled look to the team,” he said.
“It was harsh on Shaun (Maher) to be sent-off last week for two bookings but we’ll get on with it. We’ve a few lads vying to replace him for this one, all of whom are capable doing the job required.
“Waterford United are one of the best sides in the Division and I’m sure will be eager to bounce back from last Saturday’s home defeat to UCD.
“They’re the only side in the league we’ve not beaten this year but we’re in better shape now that earlier in the campaign. Our goals tally is the best in the Division and things have tightened up defensively.”
Fingal’s leading scorer Conan Byrne says he’s relishing the trip to the South-East.
“This has the makings of a great game, one all our lads are excited about,” he said. “Both teams like to attack in numbers and there’s bound to be a good atmosphere at the RSC.
“I feel we’ve started to click over the last six weeks, a big part of which is down to the return from injury of Stephen Paisley, Shaun Maher and Gary O’Neill. It’s been a real team effort and now we just want to remain in contention for promotion during these last series of fixtures.”
Extratime.ie Prediction: Very hard one to call. The easy option is to go with a score draw.... so that’s exactly what I’m doing. 1-1.
The opening match of the season saw the sides play out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the RSC, a late Gary Dunphy piledriver cancelled out almost immediately by Philly Byrne's header, but the Blues will take confidence from the return fixture at Morton Stadium back in May, when they came from an early goal down to overrun their hosts and rattle the net four times.
Waterford United lost to fellow promotion rivals UCD last week and will see this game as a prime chance to get their promotion hopes back on track. The defeat saw an eight game unbeaten run come to an end and despite playing against ten men for most of the match, the Blues failed to get the midfield or attack really moving.
Manager Stephen Henderson has sent a simple message to his players.
"I have told the players that they can do one of two things. They can keep their heads down and just plod along until November. On the other hand they can keep their heads up and go out and play the way I know they can and win things, including the league."
"We have 33 points to play for, and we must not leave it all behind us considering we have come so far. We must keep our heads up."
The squad has been buoyed this week by the return of striker Vinny Sullivan to the fold after a half-year absence, boosting the options up front, and he is expected to go straight into the squad for the match. David Grincell and Paul McCarthy remain on the long-term injury list, and a real doubt exists over the availability of inspirational goalkeeper Michael Devine, who sustained a suspected broken toe against the Students. Despite this, Devine is hopeful of being available to play, and will be assessed again closer to kick-off time.
Sporting Fingal’s 2-1 victory at Athlone Town pushed them above the Blues into third place on goal difference, illustrating the closeness of the sides in the promotion battle.
Saturday’s win against Athlone, secured by Conan Byrne’s 16th goal of the season in the second half, was their fifth on the trot.
However, captain and key defender Shaun Maher is unavailable following his dismissal last weekend for two yellow cards while there are injury doubts over Eamon Zayed (calf) and Fiachra McArdle (knee). Recently-signed American goalkeeper Chris Konopka has been granted a work permit and is included in the squad.
Sporting manager Liam Buckley, though disappointed with the loss of Maher for such a crucial game, feels confident that whoever deputises at centre-back will be up to the task.
“I feel it’s no coincidence that our recent winning streak has come when the injury list has cleared up and there’s been a settled look to the team,” he said.
“It was harsh on Shaun (Maher) to be sent-off last week for two bookings but we’ll get on with it. We’ve a few lads vying to replace him for this one, all of whom are capable doing the job required.
“Waterford United are one of the best sides in the Division and I’m sure will be eager to bounce back from last Saturday’s home defeat to UCD.
“They’re the only side in the league we’ve not beaten this year but we’re in better shape now that earlier in the campaign. Our goals tally is the best in the Division and things have tightened up defensively.”
Fingal’s leading scorer Conan Byrne says he’s relishing the trip to the South-East.
“This has the makings of a great game, one all our lads are excited about,” he said. “Both teams like to attack in numbers and there’s bound to be a good atmosphere at the RSC.
“I feel we’ve started to click over the last six weeks, a big part of which is down to the return from injury of Stephen Paisley, Shaun Maher and Gary O’Neill. It’s been a real team effort and now we just want to remain in contention for promotion during these last series of fixtures.”
Extratime.ie Prediction: Very hard one to call. The easy option is to go with a score draw.... so that’s exactly what I’m doing. 1-1.
About Gareth Penrose
Gareth Penrose founded extratime.com in 2008 and has worked as a reporter / editor / developer on the site since.
Over the last 14 years, Gareth has covered games in the League … View Full Profile