Cronin's post match comments

Gareth Cronin’s programme notes tonight referred to noises from some quarters that he is an excuse-maker and habitual complainer. Tonight he was honest in his assessment of a performance that yielded a fortuitous three points for Waterford United.

“I’m pissed off to be honest. I was probably happier in Dundalk because I thought we did as well as we possibly could on the night. Tonight was just shite. If I was up there [in the stand], I’d be shouting for my head as well,” said a relieved but clearly annoyed Cronin.

When The Blues trailed to the league’s basement side with only minutes on the clock, murmurings of discontent were starting to flow from the stand. Cronin understands why the supporters felt that way. “I’d be going ballistic if I paid €15 to watch some of that. The manager always gets the blame, that’s the way it is. When I was in The Shed at Turner’s Cross, Noel O’Mahony was getting the blame...With performances like that it’s justified,” he admitted.

Despite the sub-standard performance, the fact that United chalked up another three points pleased Cronin. “It was an awful performance from start to finish but we dug out a result. But I felt we didn’t deserve to lose last week in Dundalk so maybe that’s swings and roundabouts tonight… it’s one thing being sloppy and losing, it’s another grinding out the three points and that’s a really good sign.”

The turning point came in the 73rd minute with the introduction of Joe Mulcahy, brother of Cork City’s Dave. The lively midfielder was the source of everything good about Waterford’s performance thereafter. “He was undoubtedly the winning of the game tonight,” said Cronin.

“Joe is on an amateur contract, but we are going to have to look at that straight away and give him a proper contract. He is going to be a brilliant player. He came down for pre-season training and impressed so much even with his attitude. He is just like his brother, he has no fear.”

Has the youngster done enough to earn a first start next week for the Suirsiders away to Shelbourne? “I’ll probably start him wide right. If he was a weak character you’d worry about him up there but Joe strikes me as the sort of fella who doesn’t give a shite. He just goes out and does his best.”

For all that was good about Mulcahy’s performance, there was more to worry Cronin about the rest of his team. “Maybe Paul [McCarthy] and Dave [Warren] in the middle who hadn’t played last week looked a bit rusty. We didn’t pick up enough second balls but that’s clutching at straws. It was just sloppy. Sometimes that happens and it’s hard for a manager to put his finger on it.”

As well as an anaemic midfield Waterford had to contend with the usually dependable David Breen and Kenny Browne looking shakier that the set of Prisoner Cell Block H for the first time. “I think Philly Gorman up front, who I tried to sign, he’s a big strong boy and puts himself about. I’m a big fan and he gave us trouble. All the other centre forwards we’ve had [to deal with] this year are boys that run in behind and Kenny [Browne] deals with that very easily and Dave [Breen] is strong in the air but tonight they came up against a different type of centre forward and I thought Philly battered us to be honest,” explained Cronin.

If you were a Waterford United fan, it was one of those strange nights where you didn’t know whether to feel happy or not. There was no doubt where Cronin resided on that spectrum. Nothing he could say could excuse the performance. To his credit, he didn’t even try to.