Waterford United 2 - 0 Crumlin United

• Mark Frazer
• Wed, Aug 19 2009


Crumlin Utd. travelled to the RSC hoping to continue on form from the previous round when they defeated Shelbourne in the replay of the FAI Ford Cup. They were missing influential defender and team captain, Derek Griffin, who received a red card in the previous game while Waterford were missing striker David Grincell who fractured his wrist in the same match.

Crumlins dreams were shattered as early as the 2nd minute when top scorer Graham Cummins shot from the edge of the penalty area and looped the ball over ‘keeper Graham Sutton to score for Waterford.

Playing against the wind and driving rain in the first half, Waterford continued to press and were guilty of missing three other clear cut chances in the opening 11 minutes. Crumlin, struggling to contain the Waterford attack on a greasy surface, were penalised by over fussy refereeing for their tenacious tackling and collected three yellow cards in the space of three minutes.

Crumlin continued to attempt to play the passing game and were rewarded with their best chance of an equaliser in the 17th minute when following some excellent play Daniel Loughran crashed a shot off the upright and when the ball bounced down to the feet of James Lee he had the time and space inside the five yard box to place the ball into the net only for Waterford’s Mick Devine to produce an unbelievable save.

Both sides struggled with the conditions but Waterford missed easy chances until the 39th minute when Kevin Waters scored the second goal for the Blues despite some last ditch defending from Crumlin inside the penalty area.

Into the second half and Waterford continued to pressure the Junior side with Willie John Kiely missing and Crumlin’s ‘keeper making a great save.

In the 54th minute referee, Graham Kelly yellow carded the Crumlin ‘keeper after the ball went out for a goal kick and Sutton called for a second ball as the ball boy had to run a long way to get the match ball. Mr. Kelly continued to claim the limelight in the 55th minute when issuing yellow cards to both Waterford’s Kenneth Browne and Crumlin’s Stephen Larkin. The match after this slowed in tempo with Waterford content to contain the Crumlin attack. The Blues manager, Stephen Henderson, changed things around by substituting John Kearney for Dave Warren in the 65th minute and two minutes later Warren received a yellow card for a robust challenge in midfield as Crumlin began to chase and cause problems with both James Lee and Daniel Loughran missing chances.

In the 73rd minute Crumlin continued to press with Waterford defending deeper and again Crumlin had a chance with Jonathan Clarke missing following good flowing football.

A spate of substitutions followed with Waterford replacing Kevin Waters with Declan Woodgate and Joe Mulcahy for Stephen Grant and Crumlin replacing James Lee for Anthony Kavanagh. In the 87th minute Waterford’s Cummins hit the side netting and a minute later Crumlin almost got a goal back when the usual dependable Devine flapped at a Crumlin corner and the ball fell to the feet of Crumlin’s Anthony Kavanagh and with back to goal he put the ball over the bar from 2 yards out.

The referee finished a disappointing night for Crumlin by issuing a straight red card to their skipper, Ciaran Kenna, for a tired, mistimed challenge on the edge of the area. The Crumlin amateurs gave it their all and their management and supporters should be proud of the way this junior team performed over their run in the FAI Ford Cup.

Waterford Utd: Michael Devine, Alan Carey, Kenneth Browne, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, Kevin Waters (Declan Woodgate, 81 min), John Kearney (Dave Warren, 65 min), Kieran Fitzgerald, Stephen Grant (Joe Mulcahy, 83 min), Willie John Kiely, Graham Cummins. Subs not used: Paul Carey, Gary Dunphy, Kevin Burns. Bookings: Kenneth Browne, Dave Warren, Kieran Fitzgerald.

Crumlin Utd: Graham Sutton, Gavin Kavanagh (Leon Johnson, 70 min), Damian Cuffe (Chris McCreevey, 49 min), Paul McCabe, Ciaran Kenna, Martin Cramer, Stephen Larkin, James Lee (Anthony Kavanagh, 83 min), Daniel Loughran, Patrick Lee, Jonathan Clarke. Subs not used: Colm Corcoran, Carl Redmond, Keith Conroy, John Barrett. Bookings: Daniel Loughran, Jonathan Clarke, James Lee, Graham Sutton, Stephen Larkin. Sent off: Ciaran Kenna

Referee: Graham Kelly

Man of the Match: Waterford’s Stephen Grant