Waterford United 8 - 0 Salthill Devon

• Brendan White
• Wed, Jun 09 2010


Waterford United strolled to an 8-0 drumming of Salthill Devon on Tuesday evening in a very wet RSC. The first half was easy for Waterford who led 2-0 at half time, but upped their game in the second half and put another six goals past Marty Mannion in the Salthill goal.

Stephen Henderson’s two new signings took their place on the bench for the game. Paul Murphy, formerly of Ipswich Town, and ex-Cobh Ramblers midfielder Shane Barrett, both having joined at the weekend.

Waterford United got off to the perfect start when they took the lead with just four minutes on the clock. Kevin Waters crossed from the left wing and Vinny Sullivan rose highest to expertly head past the helpless Mannion.

The Blues continued to press and doubled their lead on 20 minutes from the penalty spot. Willie John Kiely played the ball to the feet of Sullivan just inside the penalty box. He was fouled by Gearóid O'Leidhinn and Referee Jim McKell pointed to the penalty spot. Paul McCarthy stepped up and sent the Salthill keeper the wrong way.

Salthill thought they had got a goal back just three minutes before half time. Seamus Long needlessly handled on the edge of his penalty area. Mike Quirke stepped up and fired a superb strike to the top left corner of Kevin Burns net. The whistle however went and Referee McKell disallowed the goal and ordered the free kick to be retaken as Quirke had not waited for the referee’s signal. It was harsh on Quirke whose initial free kick was top class. The retake went aimlessly over the bar and half time arrived.

Within half a minute of the restart Waterford added their third goal and ended the game as a contest. Liam Kearney’s cross from the left was met by the head of Paul McCarthy and he superbly headed past Mannion.

Two more goals arrived in a four minute spell and Waterford upped their game. James O’Sullivan’s cross from the right was flicked on by Blues captain Kevin Murray and found Vinny Sullivan at the back post. Sullivan seemed to take an eternity but controlled and finished past the onrushing Salthill keeper. Sullivan then completed his hat-trick and it was his second headed goal of the game. Sullivan rose highest to head Kevin Waters’ right wing corner to the back of the net.

With 25 minutes remaining, Sullivan and Waters linked up again for goal number six. Kevin Waters floated in a free kick from the left wing; Sullivan got in front of his marker and flicked the ball low into the bottom corner.

New signing Paul Murphy then got in on the act and added a seventh goal to pile the misery on Salthill as he linked up with fellow sub Timmy Purcell. The winger got to the by-line and whipped in a front post cross which 19 year old Murphy glanced into the bottom left corner beyond the reach of Mannion.

The final minute of the game added insult to injury for the Galway side as Liam Kearney got in on the act to end the second half massacre. Having been set up by Kearney earlier in the game, Paul McCarthy returned the favour and crossed for Kearney to score yet another header in the game. Sean Boyle and Conor Hoctor both shot wildly wide of target in the second half of this very one sided contest.

Waterford United: Kevin Burns; Paul Carey, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, Kevin Waters; James O’Sullivan (Timmy Purcell 74’), Paul McCarthy, John Kearney, Liam Kearney; Vinny Sullivan (Gary Dunphy 86’), Willie John Kiely (Paul Murphy 65’)
Substitutes not used: John Hayes, Shane Barrett.
Booked: Long.

Salthill Devon: Marty Mannion, Brian Geraghty, Gearoid O’Leidhinn, Shane Stenson, James Whelan, Sean Boyle, Luke McConnell (Conor Hoctor 76’), Mike Quirke (John McGrath 65’), Shane Browne, Charlie Burke (Gerry Dolan HT), Mike Kennedy.
Substitutes not used: Paddy Quinlan, Luke Nolan.
Booked: O’Leidhinn, Quirke, Stenson,

Referee: Jim McKell
Extratime Man of the Match: Vinny Sullivan