- Brendan White
- Sun, Apr 06 2014
Goalkeeper Kevin Burns was the Waterford United saviour after a string of saves earned his side a share of the spoils against Longford Town in the City Calling Stadium on Saturday night last.
The Blues had the better chances in the first half and despite Longford coming out fighting in the second half they couldn't find a way past Burns.
The first effort on goal came from the home side when Gary Shaw set his sights on goal but Waterford defender Gary Delaney did well to block his effort. Both teams started with a Kevin O’Connor in their starting line-up and it was the Blues defender who went close early on. Good work from Philip Drohan, Kynan Rocks and O’Connor down the left set up the latter after 12 minutes but the Blues left back was just off target with his shot across the face of goal.
Vinny Sullivan flicked on a header to Kynan Rocks on 22 minutes and his attempt was almost turned into his own goal by Town defender Kevin O'Connor but Longford goalkeeper Chris Bennion clawed the ball away from underneath his crossbar. Two minutes later Brian Nolan tried his luck from 25 yards but the ball went narrowly wide for the visitors.
Just after the half hour mark Paddy Barrett went close for The Blues. Shane Murray’s free kick was headed back to the midfielder who sent another driven cross into the Longford penalty area but Paddy Barrett couldn’t get his header on target. Longford threatened again before the break but Gary Shaw headed over from a good position inside the penalty area.
The Blues had strong appeals for a penalty four minutes into the second half turned down by referee Ben Connolly. Shane Murray’s corner from the right struck the raised hand of a Longford defender but the referee waved away the strong Blues appeal.
Longford could have taken the lead eight minutes into the second period when Noel Haverty picked out O'Connor from the right but the he fired wide from an excellent position. Don Cowan struck the top of the Waterford United crossbar just passed the hour mark as The Blues dealt with a long spell of Town pressure.
Cowan, looking dangerous since his introduction, played in David O'Sullivan shortly afterwards but Burns saved well. With twenty minutes remaining Cowan laid the ball off for O'Sullivan but this time the ball came back off the woodwork.
The Blues continued to hold firm at the back and pressure from Brian Nolan saw him win possession and break to find Vinny Sullivan, but his header to set up Kiely was cleared.
The home side were forced to shoot from distance by a resoulte Blues defence and Burns was called into action again on 75 minutes - this time saving a powerful drive from outside the penalty area from Pat Sullivan.
Gavin Kavanagh, who starred at the centre of defence, came to Waterford's rescue on 80 minutes by blocking a goal bound effort from Lorcan Shannon.
The visitors had a great chance to take all three points on 89 minutes when Conor Coad, who had replaced Shane Murray after 62 minutes, raced through the centre of the field onto Kiely's through ball and cut into the penalty area. Coad squared the ball back to Willie John Kiely in a more central position, rather than taking a shot himself, but Kiely's shot was blocked by the home defence.
Kevin Burns came to The Blues rescue with a stunning last minute save to ensure the visitors left Longford with a point to show for their efforts. Longford midfielder Kevin O'Connor lined up a free kick outside the Blues penalty area - and his powerfully struck free kick saw Burns brilliantly tip the ball over his crossbar in the last action of the game.
Longford Town: Chris Bennion; Noel Haverty, Pat Flynn, Pat Sullivan, Glenn O'Connor; Lorcan Shannon, Stephen Rice, Kevin O’Connor, Sean Russell (Don Cowan 62); David O’Sullivan, Gary Shaw (Peter Hynes 79).
Subs Not Used: Paul Hunt (gk), Jamie Mulhall, Chris Deans, William Tyrell, Rhys Gorman.
Booked: G O'Connor (45), K O'Connor (45+2).
Waterford United. Kevin Burns; Thomas Croke, Gavin Kavanagh, Gary Delaney, Kevin O'Connor; Vinny Sullivan, Shane Murray (Conor Coad 62) Brian Nolan, Paddy Barrett, Philip Drohan (Paul Quilty 78); Kynan Rocks (Willie John Kiely 72).
Subs Not Used: Matthew Connor (gk), Jack Doherty, Conor Meade, Conor Whittle.
Booked: Sullivan (20), Delaney (59), Coad (75), Croke (89).
Referee. Ben Connolly
Attendance: 450.
Man of the Match: Kevin Burns (Waterford United) - Made some vital saves.
