Cork City Foras Co-op 0 - 2 Waterford United

• Alan Smith
• Fri, Mar 12 2010


Waterford United have continued their 100% record with a 2-0 win over Cork City at Turner’s Cross tonight. The Blues deserved their win, with goals from Alan Carey and Vinny Sullivan either side of half-time making it six points from six.

They had the better chances in front of goal, against what still looks like an unsure Cork City. However, you can’t be too harsh on the Leesiders’ as they are still just three weeks into existence. Waterford, in all aspects, are much more settled and there could be absolutely no complaints about the result.

Much had been made in the run-up to the “new” Cork City’s first home game, but Stephen Henderson’s men were always keen to spoil the party as they look to build momentum in their pursuit for promotion. The Blues came agonisingly close to moving back into the top tier last year, and although it may be over-the-top to consider this as a signal of their intent, three points is worth the same regardless of the performance and opposition.

Cork made just one change from the side that got a point up in the Brandywell last Friday, with newly signed Shane Duggan coming in, Paul Deasy dropping to the bench. Waterford, meanwhile, made three changes to the side that annihilated Wexford Youths at the RSC in Series One, with Gareth Cambridge and Gary Dunphy coming into the fray and John Kearney back from suspension starting at left back in place of Kevin Waters.

The game was delayed by ten minutes due to crowd congestion; something the home club will be pleased with, their first game already giving the coffers a little boost. They’ve budgeted for an average gate of 1000 this season, so anything above that will be very much welcomed by FORAS.

In an evenly balanced opening quarter, Davin O’Neill had a half-chance smothered by American ‘keeper Chris Konopka, while at the other end former Cork midfielder Gareth Cambridge fired way over for the away side in the 9th minute.

The football may not have been scintillating in what was a mediocre first half, but Cork, with the experienced duo of Greg O’Halloran and Dave Rogers at the back, proved to be solid as Waterford struggled to get past the wall-like rearguard in the opening exchanges.

Nevertheless, all their hard work was undone by a poor decision from the referee after a half hour. Stephen Mulcahy tangled with ex-Turner’s Cross attacker Vinny Sullivan on the edge of the area, and perhaps harshly, Padraig Sutton pointed to the spot. Former Cork defender, Alan Carey stepped up to take the spot-kick, dispatching the ball into the corner of the net.

The rest of the first half seemed to be quite a letdown, but the home team did come out with an extra bit of vigour after the break, Ian Turner shooting wide in the first three minutes. Waterford still possessed a threat though, and Willie John Kiely had a bit of a scramble from close range on 52 minutes, with Mark McNulty bundling the ball around the post for a corner.

Any momentum Cork had managed to build up was undone on the hour mark though, as Waterford doubled their advantage with a sublime finish from Sullivan. John Kearney crossed to the striker at the back-post and he produced a pin-point finish to beat Mark McNulty from a tight angle.

The Blues seemed at ease at this point and Paul McCarthy blasted over twenty minutes from time and Cork’s slim hopes were all but quenched when Greg O’Halloran received his marching orders after a clash with David Grincell ten minutes from time.

Cork City: McNulty; Turner, Rogers, O’Halloran, Mulcahy; O’Neill, Duggan, Lordan, Heffernan (Warren, ’86); Forde, Cummins (Deasy ’66).
Subs unused: Devine, Clancy, Dineen. Booked: Rogers, Heffernan.
Sent off: O’Halloran

Waterford United: Konopka; Carey, Murray, John Kearney, Long; Dunphy, McCarthy (O’Sullivan, ’86), Cambridge (Purcell, ’78), Liam Kearney; Sullivan, Kiely (Grincell, ’71).
Subs unused: Hayes, Waters.

Booked: Liam Kearney, Dunphy.

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Vinny Sullivan - perhaps his best ever game at Turner's Cross.

Referee: P Sutton

Attendance: 4401