Waterford United came out on top for the second time this season at Turner’s Cross after they snatched a 1-0 win over Cork City.
Expectations were high on Leeside going into the game, but with the league’s leading marksman Graham Cummins suspended, it was always going to be tough for the Rebel Army.
Gearóid Morrissey started in place of City’s number 9, with Tommy Dunne opting for a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Shane Barrett and George O’Callaghan as the main attacking threat. The game got off to a lively start, Morrissey finding O’Callaghan with a beautiful cross, but the Whitechurch man could only head wide of the post. Down the other end, Vinny Sullivan found himself in great position 10 yards out, but his rising shot flew well over the bar.
The impressive Daryl Kavanagh was a thorn in the side of the City defence all night, and look destined to score when he dispossessed Billy Woods in the 15th. His shot lacked direction however, and McNulty wasn’t troubled. It was end to end stuff as O’Callaghan came close to getting on the end of Davin O’Neill’s excellent delivery, but the ball evaded him and Waterford cleared. Timmy Purcell’s header moments later bounced agonisingly off the cross bar, again the chance arising after some exceptional wing play from Kavanagh.
The only goal of the game arrived ten minutes before the break. Purcell took control of the ball on the left and he played the ball to Willie John Kiely. His left footed drive was pin-point accurate and ended up in the bottom corner of the net leaving McNulty stranded.
After the restart City pressed forward more in search of an equaliser, O’Callaghan forcing a save from Kevin Burns with a speculative chip from outside the box. He had two further chances to equalise in the second half, first shooting wide from the edge of the box, and later was denied by a fantastic point-blank save from Burns when O’Callaghan looked certain to score with his head from 6 yards out.
A double substitution with Gareth Cambridge and debutant Kieran Keneally re-invigorated City’s attack, but the vital goal never arrived. Kenneally’s first effort on goal ended up landing on the roof of the net as it looked headed for the top corner. Cambridge unluckily struck the post late on, Ian Turner first forcing a save from Burns, but Cambridge stretched to get a toe on the rebound and saw the ball hit the butt of the post.
Cork City
Starting Line-Up: McNulty, Turner, O’Halloran, Kavanagh, Woods, O’Neill, Duggan, Lordan, Morrissey, O’Callaghan, Barrett.
Substitutions: Lougheed for Morrissey (58mins), Cambridge for O’Neill (72mins). Keneally for Barrett (79mins). Subs not used: Piechnik, Horgan.
Waterford United
Starting Line-Up: Burns, Carey, Murray, Hayes, J.Kearney, Purcell, Dunphy, Kavanagh, L.Kearney, Kiely, Sullivan.
Substitutions: Waters for Purcell (77mins), Grincell for Kiely (89mins). Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Paul McCarthy, James O’Sullivan.
Referee: J.Grimes.
Official Attendance: 1984.
Photos: Click Here.
Half Time Draw: The winning ticket was a yellow ticket, number 291-295. Serial code: 133680
