Waterford FC 0 - Cork City 3
Compiled by Matt Keane
Cork City who will play in the First Division this season after being relegated in 2020 proved to be much too clever for a new look Waterford team at the RSC today.
Playing a 4-1-3-2 formation, the home side were all at sea, especially during the first half, and although they improved slightly in the second period they had to play second fiddle to the Leesiders for the majority of the game.
The Blues opened up brightly enough and James Waite cut in from the left after 4 minutes but his low shot was well saved by the veteran Cork City goalkeeper Mark McNulty. Dylan McGlade brought a good save from the home goalkeeper Matthew Connor six minutes later
The visitors took the lead on 15 minutes. Dylan McGlade ran forward to meet a ball from Cian Coleman. He lobbed the ball over Matthew Connor from inside the six yards box and with the aid of a deflection from Kyle Ferguson the ball finished up in the back of the net.
Niall Brennan whipped over a free-kick from the right on 35 minutes. John Martin moved forward to meet the ball but his effort was easily saved by Mark McNulty.
Colin Healy's men increased their lead five minutes into the second half. Dylan McGlade sent over a corner-kick from the right and when Matthew Connor missed the flight of the ball, Cian Murphy headed to the net at the back post.
Adam O'Reilly almost pulled a goal back for the hosts shortly afterward with a free-kick from 25 yards but the ball went inches wide of Mark McNulty's left upright.
James Waite clipped the top of the Cork upright in the 58th minute with a blistering run and shot.
Two minutes later Jack Stafford shot straight at the Cork custodian from close range.
Cork City wrapped up the contest on 80 minutes with a brilliant goal. Their second-half substitute Alec Byrne let fly from the edge of the box and his shot gave Paul Martin (who had replaced Matthew Connor) no chance whatsoever.
Overall this was a very disappointing display by a Waterford side who were playing together for the first time and a lot of work will have to be done on the training ground before the opening away game against Drogheda United on March 19th.
Kevin Sheedy's men play Wexford FC on Saturday next in another pre-season game and the new manager will be expecting a lot more from his charges.
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Waterford FC - Matthew Connor, Tunmise Sobowale, Kyle Ferguson, Cameron Evans, Jack Stafford, Niall O'Keeffe, Oscar Brennan, Adam O'Reilly, John Martin, Cian Kavanagh, James Waite.
Second-half substitutes. Paul Martin, Prince Mutswunguma, Trialist A, Alex Phelan.
Cork City - Mark McNulty, Ronan Hurley, George Heaven, Gearoid Morrissey, Dylan McGlade, Cian Coleman, Cian Bargary, Cork Galvin, Cian Murphy, Gordon Walker, Jack Baxter.
Second-half substitutes. Beineon O'Brien- Whitmarsh, Steven Beattie, Dale Holland, Alec Byrne, Jack Walsh, Darragh Crowley, Luke Desmond, Uniss Karebo, Jamie Wynne.
Referee. Graham Kelly. Assistants. Jonathan Hennessy and Eoin Harte.
