Report: Waterford United 5 - 0 Monaghan United

Any aspiring style guru who elected to miss this clash passed up the First Division equivalent of a Versace fashion show. After defeat in Tolka Park last week, Waterford United bounced back with a resounding 5-0 demolition of Monaghan United at the RSC. A hat-trick from Vinny Sullivan and a brace from David Breen ensured that Monaghan made the long journey north with nothing more than a saddle bag of humiliation to show for their efforts.

Had the Blues not embraced profligacy like Damien Richardson does spellbinding gibberish, the services of Dickie Bird would have been required to calculate the score. The wastefulness started in the third minute. Foley and Kiely played a one-two before the former crossed for Vinny Sullivan who struck the bar with his header. The ball rebounded to Joe Mulcahy but with the goal at his mercy the youngster blazed over.

The 19-year-old had fluffed another chance two minutes later when he volleyed Dave Warren’s corner high, wide and not-so-handsome. Twenty minutes of turgid football passed before the game ceased its Rip van Winkle impersonation. Wayne Byrne’s clearance only found Dave Warren and the former Cobh man whipped in a cross that captain David Breen duly dispatched with his head.

Monaghan had only wiped the blood from their nose before Waterford hit them with a haymaker. Two minutes after Breen’s opener, Mulcahy found Sullivan 25 yards from goal. The Dungarvan man took a touch before curling a delectable effort over Brendan Kennedy and into the back of the net.

Monaghan’s best opportunity came with Waterford still celebrating that goal. Holden’s punch found Aaron Mooney who rolled the ball into the path of Philip Shepperd. The target man could do no better than strike the outside of the post.

Waterford hit back immediately and with Vinny Sullivan playing the role of puppet-master, a disjointed Monaghan were left chasing shadows. Mulcahy twice should have extended The Blues’ lead while Sullivan was denied a second screamer after his turn and shot was saved by Kennedy.

With half-time on the horizon, Waterford put the result beyond doubt after a poorly cleared free-kick fell to Sullivan whose low drive bounced over Kennedy.

Waterford eased off of the gas after the break and Monaghan could have thrown themselves a lifeline when Hand found Shepperd. The number nine unleashed a speculative effort that just went wide of Holden’s goal with the ‘keeper well beaten.

Waterford moved back through the gears immediately and on the hour Sullivan was denied when Ian Malone cleared his effort off of the line after sub-‘keeper Woods had committed himself. Waterford netted a fourth three minutes later when David Breen scrambled home from a Michael Foley corner.

A razor-sharp David Grincell was next in line to attempt to extend Waterford’s lead. The striker broke free and attempted to lob Woods but his effort was just the wrong side of the crossbar. With six minutes left on the clock Mulcahy surged into the penalty area and was felled by Woods as he made for the touchline. Referee Graham Kelly had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Encouraged by Gareth Cronin, the crowd bayed for David Breen to step up and complete his hat-trick but Vinny Sullivan, in Didier Drogba mode, claimed the penalty for himself. However, his spot-kick was too close to Woods and the ‘keeper made an excellent save.

Barely had the dust settled on his penalty miss before Sullivan latched onto a through ball and from just outside the box he lifted a sublime chip over Woods to belatedly seal his claim on the match ball.

Monaghan’s misery was complete in injury time when Shepperd fluffed his chance to bag a consolation goal after a rare foray into Waterford’s half. Browne’s error left him one on one with Holden but Sheppherd’s tame effort was easily smothered by the shot stopper. All in all, a satisfying evening on the catwalk for the home side.

Waterford United: Packie Holden; Stephen Quigley (Kieran Fitzgerald, 68), David Breen, Kenny Browne, Robbie Clarke; Dave Warren, Paul McCarthy, Joe Mulcahy, Michael Foley (Kevin Waters 73); Vinny Sullivan, Willie John Kiely (David Grincell, 63).
Subs not used: Luke Fotzpatrick, Ben Spicer.

Booked: Kiely (16), Browne (53).

Monaghan United: Brendan Kennedy (Danny Woods, 51); Ian Maher, Paul Whelan, Aaron Mooney, Ian Malone; Dom Tierney, Robbie Collins (Darren Meenan, 68), Wayne Byrne (Stephen McCrossan, 60), Eoin Lannigan; James Hand, Philip Sheppard.
Subs not used: Kieran Reilly, Darragh Hanaphy.

Booked: Woods (84).

Referee: Graham Kelly.