Waterford FC 3 Kerry FC 0
Waterford got back to winning ways when they defeated Kerry FC by 3 goals to nil at the RSC. The Blues put two league draws behind them to secure all three points in a game where they enjoyed significant possession but were thwarted for long periods by a resolute Kerry defence.
Keith Long made four changes to the team that drew with Athlone with Killian Cantwell, Niall O Keeffe, Sam Perry and Serge Atakayi all losing out. Giles Philips returned after suspension and there were starts for Harry Nevin, Cam Cresswell and Christie Pattison.
Ronan Coughlan had Waterford’s first chance on 11 minutes when he turned at the top of the area to create a shooting chance but his shot was deflected for a corner.
It was then the turn of the visitors to test Sam Sargent who turned the ball over from Matt Keane and then got down at his near post to deny Leo Gaxha.
The breakthrough came on 37 minutes when Conor Parsons picked up a breaking ball inside the Kerry area and he blasted a right footed effort past Arthur Nganou.
Waterford doubled their lead on 66 minutes when Parsons turned provider for Roland Idowu with a lovely pass and Idowu fired a 25 yard piledriver to the net.
Coughlan scored Waterford’s third in injury time when he reacted to an Idowu through ball and took advantage of a defensive error to touch the ball into the empty net.
WATERFORD FC: Sam Sargeant, Harry Nevin (Niall O’Keeffe ’19), Drew Baker, Giles Phillips, Ryan Burke, Barry Baggley, Cameron Cresswell (Romeo Akachukwu ’63), Christie Pattisson (Sam Perry ’74), Connor Parsons (Serge Atakayi ’74), Roland Idowu, Ronan Coughlan.
KERRY FC: Arthur Nganon, Ethan Kos, Jonathan Hannafin (Togor Silong ’59), Kevin Williams, Cian Barrett, Rob Vasiu (Nathan Gleeson ’82), Martin Coughlan (Ronan Teehan ’46), Matt Keane (Sean O’Connell ’59), Sean McGrath, Leo Gaxha, Ryan Kelliher (Cian Brosnan ’68).
Referee: Gavin Colfer (Wicklow).
