Waterford United Back in action

Following last weeks blank weekend on the league scene due to the fact that the FAI Cup took centre stage Waterford United return to action once again this Friday when they travel to Eamon Deasy Park to play Galway F.C. It's hard to believe that the Blues have not won a game since way back on June 12th when they beat Shamrock Rovers ``B'' in the Tallaght Stadium. Since that victory a lot of players have left the club and a number of new young players have come in. In many ways this has been an extraordinary season and one which will be talked about for some time to come. This weekends game will be the 4th meeting of the clubs this season. On March 14th the teams played out a scoreless draw at the RSC. Waterford lost at the Galway venue on May 2nd by two goals to nil. The third game back in Waterford finished level (1-1) on July 4th. The men from the west have been in the top four all season and currently they are battling it out with Wexford Youths for the third and final play-off place. Waterford United on the other hand have long since fallen out of the race for promotion due to the coming and going's at the club and really they are now just playing for pride. Since the away win in Tallaght the Blues have drawn with Galway and Cobh Ramblers but they have lost to Shelbourne, Longford Town, Shamrock Rovers and Finn Harps. The last two games, both at home saw the new look side lose two nil so it would be fair to say that they will be a little short on confidence heading to Galway this week. Following this weeks match, the Waterford team will play Shelbourne at home, Wexford away, Longford and Cobh Ramblers (both at home) and they will wind up the season away to Shamrock Rovers. Young players such at Ethan Blake, Shaun Corcoran, Patrick Fitzgerald, Conor Coad and Daryl Power will gain experience from those games and hopefully the young team can garner a couple of points from the remaining six games as a confidence boost ahead of next season. Due to the financial situation at the club those players will play a major role in 2015. Of course a couple of experienced players will have to be brought in especially in the middle of the park and up front to help them out but for now it's a case of completing the current season before planning for next year. More young players at Waterford United will be on show this weekend at the RSC when they play Limerick in the first game of the new Under 19 League. Manager Johnny Browne and his coaching staff have an exciting team to work with this term and they are expected to challenge for the title. Following a traumatic campaign in the First Division it would be wonderful to see the club battling it out for honours in the Under 19 League and Cup and reports suggest that will be the case with the new Under 19 squad. Many top players from local clubs and from outfits in the South East will be wearing the blue jersey during the coming months and an exciting term is in store for followers of Waterford United.