Preview: Kildare County vs Waterford United
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After last weekend's dramatic injury time winner against Dundalk, Waterford United make the journey to Newbridge this coming Friday full of confidence ahead of their second meeting of the season with Kildare County (KO 7:45pm).
That win, and Shelbourne's defeat to Longford Town the following night, has tightened things up considerably at the head of the table, with just three points separating the top three sides once more. Though the Blues rode their luck at times, and manager Gareth Cronin admitted that he would have been happy with a draw, Luke Fitzpatrick's 94th minute winner means confidence in the squad is high as they go looking for another three points to keep the momentum going.
The match against Kildare at the RSC in April proved to be a stern test for the Blues, as they twice came from behind to nick a late 3-2 victory, and Cronin is aware of the tough challenge the Thoroughbreds will provide in this game on their home patch, especially as they have improved greatly since then, most recently taking a hard won point from Sporting Fingal at the Morton Stadium, but he will be disappointed with anything less than a victory at a ground he knows very well. He will have to plan without the services of full back Stephen Quigley, who serves his second match ban for a red card against Fingal, and striker Willie John Kiely, suspended for reaching four penalty points, as well as long-term injury Paul McCarthy.
Gareth Cronin is fully aware that Kildare have it in them to challenge strongly for the three point.
"Station Road is a ground I know well. It's a small tight pitch but we will be going there full of confidence looking to take another three points. We will take nothing for granted against Kildare. They almost caught us at home in the last series of games, and they have improved greatly since that game."
Kildare team news was not available at the time of writing. The game kicks off at 19:45pm in Station Road.
