Mervue United 1- 6 Waterford United

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Sep 18 2010


Third placed Waterford United easily claimed all three points to keep the pressure on the front two in the Airtricity First Division as they hit a struggling Mervue side for six, with Willie John Kiely registering a hat-trick.

It was another poor start for the home side as John Kearney rifled home from just inside the box following a Timmy Purcell knock down with just one and a half minutes on the clock. The concession of early goals has been a real achilles heel of this young home side all season as they once again fielded six of their under 20 side in the starting eleven and all five subs.

The home side did draw level just 9 minutes later after a period of sustained pressure. Timmy Purcell cleared a Kevin Crehan header off the line following a corner kick from Alex Lee and Eric Browne had a shot blocked before David Goldbey latched onto the loose ball to stroke the ball past Kevin Burns.

That sparked the visitors back into action as a Alan Carey cross picked out Vinny Sullivan in the centre but he headed over in the 22nd minute, while Wille John Kiely had two close efforts following that. Firstly he flicked another Carey ball into the side netting and then he picked up a loose back pass from Mark Ludden only to see Ger Hanley quickly off his line to block that effort.

The visitors were back in front just after the half hour mark when a freekick from the left by Carey hit the target but Hanley failed to hold it and Kiely bundled the ball home under the post on 34 minutes.

Mervue started the brighter in the second period with winger Rory Gaffney’s trickery releasing Ludden down the left and his dangerous cross into the box almost saw Seamus Long turn the ball into his own net but his mis-hit clearance flew out for a corner. Ludden then hit an effort over Burns crossbar following a Casserely free-kick into the box on 56 minutes.

After that it was all the visitors as two goals in a three minute spell saw Waterford go three clear. Another Alan Carey freekick on 66 minutes, after Liam Kearney had been taken down on the edge of the box, was flicked home by Kevin Murray at the far post for 3-1. Before the home side could recover they were caught at the back again as Gary Dunphy’s ball over the top saw Purcell race clear to slide the ball past Hanley on 69 minutes.

The visitors added a fifth seven minutes later when Michael Coady picked up on a loose back pass and forced an excellent save from Hanley, but the rebound fell to substitute Paul Murphy who unselfishly passed inside for Kiely to stroke home his second of the night. Ten minutes later Hanley denied Kiely his third with a brillant stop after an excellent John Kearney through ball.

Murphy then struck an effort straight at Hanley with four minutes remaining, while the home keeper denied Purcell with another fine save on 88 minutes. Not to be denied Kiely finally claimed his hat-trick a minute into injury time. Murphy set Purcell away with a superb ball, and Kiely was on hand to gratefully turn the cross home and claim the match ball.

Mervue United: Ger Hanley; James Casserely, Mark Ludden , Eric Browne, Martin Conneely, Barry McEntee, Alex Lee (Dan Cunningham ’63), Kevin Crehan, Enda Curran (Mike Collins ’72), David Goldbey and Rory Gaffney (Ryan Boyle ’81)
Subs not used: Mike Elwood and Conor Gleeson (GK).
Booked: Martin Conneely (’65)

Waterford United: Kevin Burns; Alan Carey, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, Michael Coady; Timmy Purcell, Gary Dunphy (James O’Sullivan ’78), John Kearney, Liam Kearney (Kevin Waters ’78); Vinny Sullivan (Paul Murphy ’72) and Willie John Kiely.

Subs not used: John Hayes and Chris Konopka (GK)
Booked: Vinny Sullivan (’61), Seamus Long (’74)

Referee: Rob Rodgers
Extratime Man of the Match: Willie John Kiely (Waterford) – Hat-trick hero ran close though by an excellent Timmy Purcell.