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You are > Home > Waterford’s bravura football sinks Youths
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Thursday, March 11, 2010
Waterford’s bravura football sinks Youths
Waterford Utd 3 Wexford Youths 0
BREATH CLOUDS the chill evening air.
Summer soccer is here.
As we huddle in the RSC for the big kickoff I wonder who decided that an athletics stadium was an appropriate place to stage a soccer match. But not for long.
The Waterford United players are intent on bridging the gap that sets them apart from their supporters with bravura football that earns them the first goal of the new Airtricity First Division season after only six minutes.
Purcell sends Vinny Sullivan in on the right and he speeds on unchallenged as former Blues keeper Holden advances to score with precision from the narrowest of angles.
Fifteen minutes later the visitors lose their absent left full for the duration when he is instantly red-carded for a dangerous two footed challenge on Murray.
Youths withdraw Warren Broaders’ namesake Dean to full back and install Sheahan on the right of midfield, leaving Furlong the lone striker. But the game has already passed Wexford by.
It’s been Wexford’s misfortune to run into possibly the best two wingers in Ireland within seven days. After the dazzling Dennehy in Tallaght last Saturday now it’s the Liam Carney show from surely the best signing by any First Division club this season.
Electric pace, intelligence and super skills, this blondie kid not only does it on the pitch – he is also a hit of pop star proportions with his fan club of teenage girls.
A young man fit to assume the mantle of the legendary Johnny Matthews who is watching from across the moat.
But Kearney is not the only star on the evening’s bill, his support band of Waters, McCarthy, Long, Sullivan and Kiely is on song too.
Youths are exposed on both flanks and Waterford’s corner tally reaches double figures. Holden leaps high to make a great catch from on the left but then allows a flag kick from the right to slip through his hands. It’s that sort of game.
It’s a remarkable match for the number of unforced errors from both defences. Hesitant home keeper Konopka does his best to gift Wexford a goal on the half hour by passing the ball to Gary Sheahan but when Sheahan slips in Danny Furlong the lone striker muffs a gilt-edged opportunity.
With so many mistakes unpunished it is unfortunate that two from sub Aidan McCann both result in Waterford goals in the second half.
The first time the young central defender falls over himself allows Willie John Kiely to bear down on goal.
When Holden surprisingly stays at home Kiely slips the ball past him. Sixty four minutes.
When McCann slips again seven minutes later he is forced to bring down Grincell. Alan Carey blasts the spot kick home.
Meanwhile, emergency defender Dean Broaders has made two excellent interventions with his goal under siege from crosses. Both are deflected behind by the narrowest of margins.
They might have been two own goals but that’s little comfort for McCann.
The evening ends with Waterford manager Stephen Henderson punching the air in triumph.
For the Youths, who won a famous victory at the RSC last season, it’s a match best written off to experience.
But there is a lightweight look to their squad, a vulnerability in defence, the lack of a playmaker in midfield and hence a failure to service the strike force that is worrying, even at this early stage of the season.
Waterford United: Chris Konopka, Alan Carey, John Hayes, Kevin Murray (capt.), Kevin Waters, Timmy Purcell (Greath Cambridge 66), Seamus Long (Gary Dunphy), Paul McCarthy, Liam Kearney, Willie John Kiely (Grincell 66), Vinny Sullivan.
Wexford Youths: Packie Holden, Anto Russell, Anthony Wolfe (Aidan McCann 35), David Breen (capt.), Warren Broaders (s/o 20); Jimmy Keohane, Shane Dempsey, Patsy Malone (Chris Kenny 77), Dean Broaders, Danny Furlong (Aust 85), Gary Sheahan.
Referee: Graham Kelly. Attendance 683.
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