Waterford FC and FAI Cup champions Shamrock Rovers played out an entertaining scoreless draw at the RSC on Sunday evening. The Hoops fielded a full strength team and the Blues paraded their new signings Tadgh Ryan( goalkeeper) , Scott Allardice, Ali Coote, Kevin O;Connor, Robbie McCourt and Graham Cummins. Sam Bone, Michael O'Connor and Will Fitzgerald who have remained with the club from last season also featured.
Three trialists also played during the course of the 90 minutes as did young local players, Shane Griffin and Regix Madika. The new look Waterford team will be back in action once again on Saturday next when they will welcome Bray Wanderers to the RSC for a 2.00pm kick-off.
All of the new arrivals displayed some excellent form and it came as no surprise that the Blues manager Alan Reynolds admitted after the game that he was ``very pleased with the performance especially the defence.
When you consider we have been back training for only three weeks and Rovers have been training since the start of December we did very well indeed. We should have soome more players available for the Bray Wanderers match on Saturday also. The 14th of February is fast approaching and our opening league game against St Patrick's Athletic so the coming weeks are very important''.
It was the FAI cup champions that started on the front foot when forcing a number of corner kicks with one of them landing on the head of Graham Burke on ten minutes after a Jack Byrne delivery, but his header went over Tadhg Ryan’s crossbar.
The Tallaght outfit should have opened the scoring on 17 minutes when Aaron McEneff done well down the right side to put the ball on the head of Ronan Finn, but his header, which beat keeper Tadhg Ryan was cleared off the line by Darragh Power.
Graham Burke forced Ryan into a fine save with 33 minutes on the clock as Rovers continued to boss the game when the centre forward took possession of a loose ball 30-yards from goal, but his left-footed effort was straight down the throat for the Limerick native.
Jack Byrne had a chance from a set piece for Rovers ten minutes into the second half when Brandon Kavanagh was brought to ground just outside the penalty area, but the resulting free kick was over the crossbar of Blues keeper Tadhg Ryan.
Graham Cummins had a half chance for the Blues soon afterwards when he found space inside the area after advancing for a corner kick, but his goalbound effort was blocked away by Lee Grace. New signing Ali Coote did well for the hosts on the hour mark when he cut in from the left, but Roberto Lopes blocked out his effort.
It was Shamrock Rovers that created a chance to take the lead on 69 minutes when Graham Burke spotted the run of Brandon Kavanagh out on the left-side and after turning onto his right-foot, his shot was kept out by keeper Ryan.
Dylan Watts went agonisingly close to grabbing a winning goal for the visitors on 82 minutes when he beat the offside trap to race onto a through ball from Jack Byrne, but the midfielder struck the outside of the right-hand post with keeper Tadhg Ryan beaten.
Blues keeper Tadhg Ryan was forced into one final save with just seconds remaining in the tie when central defender Roberto Lopes latched onto a ball 35-yards from goal, but his well struck effort was well held in what was a very good outing for Alan Reynolds new look squad.
(Report courtesy of Matt Keane)
FULLTIME: A good workout for the Blues here in the RSC, as it finished 0-0.
Thanks to all for their attendance this evening. We're back here next Saturday as we face @BrayWanderers #WeAreWaterfordFC #WeAreBlues— Waterford FC (@WaterfordFCie) January 26, 2020
