Longford Town 0 - 2 Waterford United

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Sat, Oct 16 2010


A brace from Willie John Kiely helped Waterford United pick up their first win of the season at Flancare Park and in doing so moved them to within two points of second placed Monaghan Utd in the First Division table.

Two minutes had just gone on the clock when the visitors broke the deadlock; Paul Murphy played a perfect ball into Kiely and he coolly slotted past the advancing Town keeper Stephen Conlon.

Town worked hard to try and get back into the game but despite all their dominance in the first half they failed to really trouble Waterford netminder Kevin Burns. Lee Roche and Don Cowan were lively up front and both had chances. Burns made a good save from Roche in the 27th minute, smothering the striker’s shot after his previous effort had been blocked.

Despite making the perfect start to the game Waterford lost their way a little shortly after that goal. Murphy flashed a 25 yard effort wide on the half-hour mark; that was the closest they went to a second goal in that half. Town were enjoying large spells of football but just didn't have the cutting edge to really test Waterford.

The difference between the sides was having a striker of the calibre of Willie John Kiely. Just before the break Roche had a glorious opportunity to get the Town back level terms but his effort just went wide.

Town enjoyed possession in the early stages of the second half but their inability to put away the chances that fell their way proved costly 10 minutes after the restart. The double act of Murphy and Kiely combined again to double Waterford’s advantage; Murphy’s perfect cross from the right found Kiely and he headed past a static Conlon in the Town goals. That goal put the striker level on goals with Graham Cummins at the top of the goalscoring charts.

That goal was the cushion the visitors needed and they were able to confidently sit back and soak up the pressure. As the half went on it looked as if Town were never going to pull a goal back. Craig Walsh had the home side’s best chance of the second half but his excellent volley was superbly pushed around the post by Waterford keeper Burns.

Longford Town: Conlon, Deans (Mooney 77), Hyland, Lester, Lee (Cronin 81), Brady, Salmon, Walsh, Oladele, Cowan, Roche (Freeman 57)
Subs not used: Ekanem, Hynes

Waterford United: Burns, Long, Murray, J Kearney, Coady, L Kearney, Purcell (Walsh 64), Dunphy (Barrett 76), Carey, Murphy (Sullivan 77), Kiely.
Subs not used: Waters, Konopka.

Referee: J McKell (Tipperary)
Extratime Man of the Match: Kiely (Waterford Utd)