Waterford United suffer more Tolka Park heartache
Shelbourne 1 - Waterford United 0
Tolka Park, a venue situated in Drumcondra, Dublin 9 is a place where Waterford teams have found it difficult to get results in recent years and that fact was proven once again on Friday night last. The only goal of the game came on 54 minutes from the penalty spot and it was the home side who scored the only goal of a game which never reached any great heights. This was the second game the Blues played under the guidance of new manager Roddy Collins and he made one change from the team which defeated Cabinteely the previous week. Dylan Mernagh came into defence instead of Patrick Fitzgerald. The result keeps Waterford joint bottom of the league with Cabinteely who drew with Cobh Ramblers on the same evening. Waterford began the game in fine style and they put the host under pressure during the opening five minutes but it was Shelbourne who had the first chance of the game after 7 minutes of play. Mark Sandford slipped the ball through to Philly Hughes who in turn found space inside the penalty area but he dragged his shot wide. Seven minutes later Gareth Coughlan sent over a free kick from the right which was met by Craig Walsh but he headed over the crossbar from a decent position. Coughlan was involved once again shortly afterwards when he floated over a dangerous ball from the right but the Blues goalkeeper Matthew Connor did well to collect the ball under pressure from Philly Hughes and Mark Sandford. The visitors were very lucky not to fall behind on 33 minutes. Dylan McGlade raced down the right wing and he sent over a fine cross but the Waterford defender Dylan Mernagh headed clear. The ball fell to the Shelbourne defender Sean Heaney who let rip from 35 yards but his effort came crashing back off the crossbar with Matthew Connor well beaten. The remainder of the first half saw the home side continue to press the Waterford defence back but led by Shane Dineen the visiting back four held firm. The opening moments of the second half followed the pattern of the first but what proved to be the pivotal move of the game arrived on 54 minutes. Craig Walsh got free out on the left and he picked out the Shels right-full back Adam O'Connor who was storming in from the right flank. O'Connor struck the upright but the ball broke free inside the 18 yards box and Jack Doherty was adjudged to have taken Philly Hughes from behind by the match official Simon Rogers who pointed to the penalty spot. Gareth Coughlan took the resultant spot kick and he blasted the ball past Matthew Connor. Roddy Collins introduced Brian Nolan at that point and removed Ross Fitzpatrick from the action and Nolan's presence had an immediate impact and suddenly the visitors began to win possession but their failure to impress in the final third of the field was palpable and the home goalkeeper Greg Murray had to produce just one save during the course of the 90 minutes. Glen Hawe picked out Brian Nolan with an excellent ball from the right on 71 minutes but Murray tipped Nolan's effort from 20 yards around his right upright. Another disappointing aspect of Waterford's play was their failure to make good use of corner kick's and free kick's with Jack Doherty being the main culprit. The remainder of the contest simply petered out to it's inevitable conclusion and Shelbourne duly made it three victories on the trot. Waterford on the other hand sadly produced a rather limp display which keeps them at the wrong end of the table.Next up for the Blues is the FAI Cup game away to Tolka Rovers this Friday in Frank Cooke Park.
Shelbourne. Greg Murray, Adam O'Connor, Evan Osam, Ryan Robinson, Sean Heaney, Daire Doyle, Gareth Coughlan, Craig Walsh, Philly Hughes, Mark Sandford, Dylan McGlade.
Subs. Alan O'Sullivan for Hughes (65 mins) Conor Earley for Sandford (67 mins) Colm Crowley for Coughlan (83 mins)
Waterford United. Matthew Connor, Dean Reidy, Shaun Corcoran, Dylan Mernagh, Shane Dineen, Ross Fitzpatrick, Bobbi Donoghue, Ethan Boyle, Willie John Kiely, Jack Doherty, Glen Hawe.
Subs. Brian Nolan for Fitzpatrick (55 mins) Sean Hurley for Donoghue (67 mins) Mark Walsh for Reidy (87 mins)
Referee. Simon Rogers.
