Waterford United 5 - 1 Castleview FC

Waterford United set up a Munster Senior Cup semi-final date with either Cork City or Rockmount after defeating Castleview of Cork 5-1 at the RSC tonight. First-half goals from Paul Carey and Adam McSherry established a 2-1 lead at the break for the home side following a Mark Cambridge reply, but goals in the second forty-five from Peter White, Ben Ryan and Gary Dempsey sealed a comfortable win for the Blues. 

The home side began on the front foot, dictating play to their non-league visitors, and took the lead after just five minutes. An inspired touch from Gary Dempsey just inside the Castleview half released Paul Phelan down the left flank, and his whipped cross was helped on to the back post by a Castleview defender for Paul Carey to deftly head home across Jason Luxford.

Waterford continued to build upon this early advantage, feeding the ball to the wings at every opportunity. On 12 minutes Phelan again managed to find some space, this time by slipping the ball through the legs of Stephen Devereaux before crossing for an unmarked Carey to head over. Waterford were beginning to look wasteful midway through the first half as Peter White this time provided the cross and Adam McSherry headed into the ground and wide from inside six yards. 

This profligacy in front of goal was short-lived however thanks to another piece of Gary Dempsey magic. The Blues’ number 10 surged forward from midfield before scooping a weighted ball into the path of Adam McSherry who duly slotted home with his left leg. 

The game was already looking beyond the visitors, but they continued to attempt to establish some sort of foothold through occasional forays into the Waterford half. A set-piece seemed their best hope of snatching a goal back and, just on the stroke of half-time, Mark Cambridge delivered. Kevin Garvey delivered a corner from the left and Castleview’s lone-striker rose highest in the box to arrow an excellent header into the back of the net via the underside of Robbie Hughes’ crossbar. 

The visitors’ joy was short-lived however, as deep into first-half stoppage-time they were reduced to ten men after Kyle Lynch received a second yellow for an untidy challenge on Jamie Cross. The midfielder had been cautioned earlier for dissent and dampened his side’s newly-acquired hopes heading into the break. 

The second-half began in much the same manner as the first, with the home side penning their opposition deep and looking to exploit the wide areas. The half was barely a minute old when Adam McSherry drove at the Castleview back-line before unleashing a low effort that skipped just wide of the far post. With the ten-men stretched to breaking point, Waterford were creating a number of good openings, but continued to have problems converting. Phelan, McSherry and Carey were all guilty of spurning chances on goal. 

The killer third goal did eventually come however. On the hour mark, Phelan swung over a corner from the right side and Peter White was on hand to head home and ease some of manager Paul O’Brien’s nerves. 

Those same nerves will have been put under some strain, though, on 78 minutes, as substitute Willie John Kiely had to be replaced after being taken out by Castleview ‘keeper Luxford just outside the box. The presence of a covering defender saved the visitors losing another man but Waterford required Darragh Walshe to come into the fray. 

The scoreline was given some gloss in the last five minutes when, first, Peter White crossed low into the box for Ben Ryan to control and fire home at the near post in space and then, with just a minute remaining, Ryan turned provider as his low cross was turned home first time by Dempsey. 


Waterford United: Robbie Huges; Peter White, Jamie Cross, Craig Burns, David Breen; Gary Dunphy, Paul Carey (Willie John Kiely 63 [Darragh Walshe 80]), Peter Higgins, Gary Dempsey, Paul Phelan; Adam McSherry (Ben Ryan 73).

Subs not used: Packie Holden, Jack Doherty, Conor Coad, Thomas Whitty.

Castleview: Jason Luxford; Stephen Devereaux (Glen Kearney 82), Robbie O'Connor, Kevin Goulding, Darren O'Regan; Brian Healy, Kevin Garvey, Dave Sullivan, Gary Connolly (Rory Power 45), Kyle Lynch; Mark Cambridge.

Subs not used: Kevin Kenneally, Paddy O'Shea.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Gary Dempsey. Created two through individual brilliance and scored one of his own.