Waterford United 6 - 0 Monaghan United

• Dean Hayes
• Sat, Apr 18 2009


Waterford United went third in the First Division with a six goal demolition of Monaghan United at the RSC this afternoon. Four goals from front man Graham Cummins and one apiece from Willie John Kiely and Paul McCarthy secured an emphatic win and a valuable three points for the Blues. Monaghan played reasonably well in the first half to go in one goal down but were cut open on numerous occasions in the second forty five and never threatened as an attacking force.

Waterford have made a habit of beginning home games on the front foot and this game was no different. The home side almost opened the scoring in the first minute when top-scorer Willie John Kiely was played through on the edge of the Monaghan box but Brian Gartland’s last ditch challenge saved Mons. Kevin Waters’ resulting low corner was easily cleared. Waterford continued to keep possession but were struggling to create any further chances. The game became quite scrappy as the away side seemed content to let Waterford have the ball in front of them without any penetration.

When the Blues did find the net in the 24th minute, it was a set-piece which saw the visitors defence come unstuck. An Alan Carey free-kick was whipped in from the right and, with Monaghan unable to clear, the ball fell kindly for Graham Cummins to slot home his third goal in two games. There was almost a second goal for the home crowd to cheer four minutes later when Cummins beat two defenders from the inside left channel only to see his shot blocked by Aidan Lynch. Cummins was looking in the mood and was unlucky to be booked for diving when he appeared to be impeded in the box shortly before half-time.

Waterford emerged after the interval and began the half in precisely the same way as the first. This time however they did manage an early goal. Just three minutes in Seamus Long launched a clearance to the left wing and Kevin Waters’ deft flick played Cummins through, allowing the striker to finish superbly on his left foot across Charlie Treacy in the Monaghan goal. The Blues were now playing with comfort and confidence and Cummins completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute when he powered home a header at the far post from a measured Carey cross. The Magic Mons were looking deflated now and Willie John Kiely added to their misery in the 59th minute when he stretched to poke a low Waters cross into the far corner.

The home side were dominating possession and threatening to add to the score line with the Mons defence looking all at sea. Carey curled a free-kick narrowly over from the edge of the box in the 65th minute and ten minutes later the fifth goal came. Gary Dunphy delayed his pass and picked out the surging midfield run of Paul McCarthy who cut inside the last defender and finished hard into the bottom left corner from sixteen yards. With the result safe, Blues boss Stephen Henderson was able to hand a senior debut to Paul Carey at right wing with 12 minutes remaining.

Waterford continued to stroke the ball around with ease as the clock ticked closer to ninety and they even added a sixth with two minutes to go. Cummins was played through and kept his composure to tuck the ball in off the far post to cap a majestic individual performance. The former Cobh man became the first player to score four in one game for Waterford since Daryl Murphy in an FAI Cup game against Killkenny in 2004. That game finished 7-2 to the Blues, and one more interesting stat; the last man to score a hat-trick in the league for the club was Vinny Sullivan last season against, you guessed it, Monaghan United.

So Waterford join Sporting Fingal on 16 points, just two behind leaders UCD following their loss last night. This was a perfect day for Waterford, with an impressive second half performance boosting their goal difference, and a result which keeps them well in the hunt for promotion.

extratime.ie man of the match: Graham Cummins: Prefers to play at centre-back but he wont get much of a chance there if he keeps playing like this, six goals in his last two games and a magnificent performance today for his team.

Waterford United: Michael Devine; Alan Carey, Kenny Browne, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long; John Kearney (Kieran Fitzgerald 77), Paul McCarthy, Gary Dunphy (Paul Carey 79), Kevin Waters; Graham Cummins, Willie John Kiely (David Grincell 60). Subs Not Used: Declan Woodgate, Joe Mulcahy.

Monaghan United: Charlie Treacy; Paul Whelan, Shane Grimes, Aidan Lynch, Brian Gartland (Barry Clancy 45); Don Tierney (Cathal O’ Connor 60), Alan Byrne, Stephen McCrossan (Sean Brennan 60), Karl Bermingham; David Freeman, Darragh Hanaphy. Subs Not Used: Brendan Kennedy, Darren McKenna.

Referee: Keith Callanan (Cork)
Attendance: 295