By Adrian Flanagan
CORK CITY - 0
WATERFORD FC - 0
After victory over Galway United at home in the SSE Airtricity First Division on Friday last, ten-man Waterford FC, who are on the brink of a takeover, came away with an unlikely share of the spoils against league leaders Cork City at Turners Cross last night.
With the club set to hold a press conference later today where it’s expected that Fleetwood Town owner Andy Pilley will be unveiled as the new owner of the club, he saw the Blues hold out against the odds to earn a point on the road - a first over Cork in their three meetings to date this season.
An unchanged Blues were reduced to ten men by referee Oliver Moran on eight minutes when Richard Taylor received a straight red card after he pulled back Cork attacker Cian Murphy as he raced through on goal with Matt Healy’s resulting 25-yard free-kick going wide.
Blues Head Coach Danny Searle took off Junior Quitirna as a result with Dean Larkin coming on in his place, and on 14 minutes, it was Paul Martin that advanced from his goal to save superbly from Ruairi Keating before Murphy fired over the bar six minutes later from an advanced position under pressure from the impressive Larkin.
The Blues were playing second fiddle less a man up to this point, but they did carve out a chance for themselves on 25 minutes when Roland Idowu, who netted in the win over Galway United, picked up possession of the ball on the right-side of the area, but his low shot was superbly saved by David Harrington.
Kevin O’Connor was wide with a free-kick on 39 minutes after Shane Griffin’s late challenge on Aaron Bolger before the Blues midfielder limped off injured three minutes later with Yassine En-Neyah entering the fray to slot into the midfield role as the hosts continued to press for the opening goal.
Wassim Aouachria headed a Phoenix Patterson right-wing corner wide of the target following some good work from Idowu two minutes into the second-half, before there was a chance for the hosts on 55 minutes through Cian Bargary, but he failed to hit the target.
Dean Larkin headed a Phoenix Patterson free-kick wide after Aouachria was fouled just before the hour mark, before Bargary found space at the other end soon afterwards, but neither Keating or Barry Coffey could convert - the latter firing over the top.
Former Waterford striker Louis Britton, who made the switch to Cork in the summer transfer window, missed a golden chance to put the home side in front on 85 minutes when he got on the end of James Doona’s right-wing delivery, but he somehow blazed over the bar from close-range as the Blues held out for a point.
CORK CITY: David Harrington, Darragh Crowley, Josh Honohan, Cian Coleman, Kevin O’Connor, Matt Healy, Aaron Bolger, Cian Bargary (James Doona ’67), Barry Coffey (Louis Britton ’72), Ruairi Keating, Cian Murphy (Dylan McGlade ’81).
WATERFORD FC: Paul Martin, Tunmise Sobowale, Richard Taylor, Kilian Cantwell, Darragh Power, Shane Griffin (Yassine En-Neyah ’42), Niall O’Keeffe, Roland Idowu, Junior Quitirna (Dean Larkin ’13), Phoenix Patterson, Wassim Aouachria.
Referee: Oliver Moran (Dublin).
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