Waterford United 2 - 0 Derry City

• Brendan White
• Sat, Sep 04 2010


Waterford United produced a superb display on Friday night to see off the challenge of league leaders Derry City by two goals to nil in the RSC. Willie John Kiely grabbed the goals, both of outstanding quality, to see off the Candystripes and pull the Blues back into the promotion chase.

With just two minutes on the clock, Waterford United should have taken the lead. Doherty raced to the edge of his box to clear but his poor clearance fell to Willie John Kiely but he somehow fired his shot just wide of the open goal.

Mark Farren had Derry City’s first chance when he raced on to a long ball over the top. The striker reached the ball before Waterford keeper Kevin Burns, but Farren’s attempted lob was headed clear by Seamus Long.

Derry almost did grab the lead after 26 minutes but for an important goal line clearance from defender Michael Coady. James McClean powered his way down the left wing before his cross fell to Thomas McBride, whose strike beat the dive of Burns but couldn’t find its way past the retreating Coady.

The opening goal arrived just three minutes before half time. Willie John Kiely began and finished the move. Kiely played the ball to Purcell who advanced before playing a sublime through ball into the path of Kiely who superbly fired a low strike into the bottom left corner past the hand of keeper Ger Doherty to give The Blues a one goal advantage at half time.

The second period began at a frantic pace but neither side really created any meaningful chances with both sets of supporters trying to rally their team. Emmet Friars had Derry’s first second half chance but his header was punched clear by Burns. James McClean’s resulting corner was cleared by Seamus Long. A delightful 50 yard cross field pass from Gary Dunphy set Timmy Purcell away down the right wing but his link-up with Vinny Sullivan was disrupted by Friars.

The second goal of the game arrived on 66 minutes and it would be a contender for goal of the season. The ball dropped to full back Paul Carey, and seemingly with little options available, he picked out a brilliant low pass to Willie John Kiely. Kiely controlled, turned superbly and fired an unstoppable strike past Ger Doherty into the bottom corner of his goal from 30 yards out.

Derry had a great chance to get back into the game just three minutes later. Stephen Parkhouse's smart back-flick sets James McClean away but Kevin Burns got down to save well. Mark Farren did have the ball in the back of the Waterford net with 15 minutes remaining but the striker was ruled to have been in an offside position before his powerful strike hit the net.

In the dying moments Derry almost grabbed a goal from an unlikely source. Keeper Ger Doherty raced forward for a corner and looked destined to head toward goal but for a decisive clearance by Long. From the resulting corner Doherty again charged toward the ball but glanced his header wide under pressure from a packed penalty box.

The result keeps the race for the title and the promotion places still up for grabs. For Waterford United it was a third straight league victory since being embarrassed by Shelbourne while for Derry it continues a run of just one win in their last five league outings.

Waterford United: Kevin Burns; Paul Carey, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, Michael Coady; Timmy Purcell (Paul Walsh 85), Gary Dunphy, John Kearney, Liam Kearney (Daryl Kavanagh 71); Willie John Kiely, Vinny Sullivan (Paul Murphy 79).
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, John Hayes.
Booked: John Kearney.

Derry City: Ger Doherty; Eddie McCallion, Mark Scoltock, Emmet Friars, Daniel Lafferty; Patrick McEleney, Barry Molloy, Darren McCauley (Stephen Parkhouse 60), James McClean; Thomas McBride (Michael McCrudden 80), Mark Farren.
Subs not used: Rory Kelly, Seamus Sharkey, Darren Cassidy.

Attendance: 646
Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork)
Extratime Man of the Match: Willie John Kiely - 2 brilliant goals and worked tirelessly all night.