WATERFORD FC
Many football lovers wont be sorry to see the end of 2019. To say it was a disappointing year would be an understatement. Waterford FC began their season with great hopes of enjoying a good campaign in the Premier League following a superb season in 2018 and over 4000 fans turned up for the first home match of the season against Cork City.
Of course the joy of playing European football for the first time in decades was also something to look forward to. As we now know that joy was short lived due to alleged broken promises and an objection from St Patrick's Athletic (who went on to play in Europe rather than our beloved Blues).
Manager Alan Reynolds worked wonders despite the fact that he had to field 30 plus players during the course of the season. At times it was difficult to figure out just who was leaving the club and who was coming in but thankfully the club retained their top flight status for 2020 and again we are now looking forward to what we hope will be a campaign with more fluidity.
We're away to St Patrick's Athletic for the opening day of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division 2020.
For those that have not already purchased their seat for the season, now is a great time to do so. Season tickets are available at https://t.co/rox7dxHGXl#Blues #WFC pic.twitter.com/fdiokZleDE— Waterford FC (@WaterfordFCie) December 20, 2019
When one considers that Limerick have been members of the League of Ireland since 1937 and the situation they find themselves in perhaps we should be counting our blessings.
The Waterford FC Under 19 team won the National League under the guidance of their manager Gary Hunt and that was a wonderful achievement.
Another proud moment! @WaterfordFCie were crowned @SSEAirtricityLg Under 19 League Champions this week and six of the squad are currently studying in WIT and are part of the Men's Premier Soccer squad. https://t.co/NwvCi6kJto
— SETU Waterford (@waterfordit) October 31, 2019
It was a super year for local players Derrick Williams, Lee O'Connor and Jayson Molumby who did themselves proud in the green shirt of Ireland at full and underage level. To see the former Villa player O'Connor make his debut against New Zealand was heartwarming and he now of course hoping for a brilliant career with Celtic following his transfer from Manchester United.
LOCAL SCENE
On the local domestic scene Hibernians continued their rivalry with Carrick United for the Premier League title and they duly came out on top on this occasion. Waterford Crystal FC retained the Waterford Premier Cup (Ardagh Cup) and their joy was unconfined and rightly so as many had written them off.
After so many years trying to get promoted from Division 1A Ballinroad finally made it and it's wonderful to see them more than holding their own in the Premier League this season. Our Schoolboy League clubs did not make any great impression on the national stage.
Tramore AFC did reach the SFAI Under 13 Cup Semi-final but they were unlucky to lose on penalties to a Leixlip team who went on to win the competition.
The Waterford team competed in the Kennedy Cup in Limerick and they came back home with the Kennedy Plate but once again the big prize eluded them but they did perform well in UL.
December brought the year to an end and what a dreadful end it proved to be when the situation with the FAI was made public.
Soccer lovers were sickened and hurt at what was published and it will take us all a very long time to recover from this fiascorE.
A Waterford born man Paul Cooke is leading the way in trying to salvage something from the wreckage and here's wishing him well in trying do do just that. He will need all the luck possible to solve this horrendous mess.
(Reporting courtesy of Matt Keane)
Matt joined Gavin to look back at another hectic season during 2019, and no doubt 2020 will be no different;
https://www.spreaker.com/user/11231943/part-five-sports-review-of-the-year-2019
https://www.spreaker.com/user/11231943/part-six-sports-review-of-the-theat-2019
