- Gareth Cloono
- Sun, Jul 14 2019
Gareth Cloono reports from The Showgrounds
Sligo Rovers and Waterford played out a scoreless draw in The Showgrounds on Saturday night – in the only Premier Division game this week due to League of Ireland teams playing in Europe.
The Bit O’Red came into this encounter on the back of a win against UCD and draw against Shamrock Rovers but were going to be pushed against a Waterford side needing the win.
It all started positive for the home team with Kris Twardek picking out some great passes but Romeo Parkes could just not finish when he received the final ball. Waterford meanwhile pressed in midfield with striker Declan O’Halloran testing Sligo Rovers keeper Edward McGinty
Mostly through the first half it was pretty even steven until Waterford’s Kevin Lynch brought down Parkes in the Waterford box which resulted in a spot kick. Parks stepped up but Matthew Connor saved the penalty with Kyle Mc Fadden clearing the danger.
Coming up to half time Devante Leverock received a yellow for a tackle on Waterford’s Tommy Holland. The resulting set piece was saved by McGinty to keep the game scoreless at the break.
Defensive as Waterford were in the early stages of the second half, they looked to make the most of the set pieces that came their way. However Liam Buckley’s Sligo side very unfortunate not to convert one of a number of chances that came their way.
The Waterford backline looked uneasy and required Maxim Kougan to rescue them on occasions even if it was an expense of a corner.
Just before the hour mark Waterford had a great chance with Corey Galvin being put through but he couldn’t convert with the ball going out for a Rovers goal kick.
Five minutes from time a terrible high tackle on Rory Feely saw Leverock red carded by referee Rob Harvey to leave Sligo Rovers with 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Twardek showed some great skill on the left wing late on when he beat three different players in one go. However the ball ran too far and the Blues defence put the ball out for a throw.
Speaking after the game Liam Buckley took the positives from the performance ahead of their trip to Derry next week.
“It was good to pick some points in this part of the season,” said Buckley.
“We are troubled with injuries and I’m sick to death of hearing about injuries but we are doing okay. We have no point to prove in the Brandywell on Friday and we hope to get a result and it will be tough.”
Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty, Kyle McFadden, Dante Leverock, Daryl Fordyce (John Russell 56), John Dunleavy, Ronan Coughlan (Sam Warde), David Cawley, Ronan Murray (John Mahon 88), Romeo Parkes, Kris Twardek.
Subs not used: Luke McNicholas, Brian Morley, Liam Kerrigan, Scott Lynch.
Booked: Dante Leverock (22 & 85).
Sent Off: Dante Leverock (85).
Waterford: Matthew Connor, Kevin Lynch (George Poynton 53), Maxim Kouogun, Shane Duggan, Kenny Brown, Dean O’Halloran (William Fitzgerald 72), Micheal O’Connor, JJ Lunney, Tommy Holland, Rory Feely.
Subs not used: Colm Whelan, Dean Walsh, Paul Martin, John Martin
Booked: Tommy Holland (71).
Referee: Robert Harvey
Attendance: 2,050
Extratime.ie Man Of The Match: Dean O’Halloran (Waterford)
