League of Ireland Premier Division Promotion / Relegation Play-Off
Waterford FC 0
UCD 1
Waterford FC will remain in the First Division of the League of Ireland in 2023 following further playoff heartache.
Thomas Lonergan’s 15th minute goal proved decisive as Junior Quitirna missed a penalty with virtually the last kick of the campaign to keep the Premier Division dream alive.
The Blues remained unchanged from last Friday’s 3-0 triumph against Galway United while the Students also opted for the same eleven that saw off Finn Harps a fortnight prior.
Both sides signalled that defending wouldn’t be the prerogative on the occasion from the offset - with both looking to gain the front foot in the opening exchanges.
Waterford began with intent down the left flank, Junior Quitirna slipped in Phoenix Patterson but his effort cannoned back off the heels of Evan Caffrey, before the Scottish winger was found by a defence splitting pass by Shane Griffin. He chopped inside Michael Gallagher, but bent his effort wide of the top right corner.
UCD had some bright moments in the beginning, Alex Nolan weaving his way through bodies before an effort was eventually cannoned over by Sean Brennan.
Griffin was next to try his luck having been found by En-Neyah, his effort deflecting behind, before Nolan wasted a fine opportunity hooking a volley over from close range.
A Quitirna free-kick deflected fortunately into Kian Moore’s midriff, and when Alex Baptiste gave away a free kick on the edge of the area on 15 minutes, it would prove particularly costly.
Alex Nolan swung in an excellent in-swinging delivery with his left foot, and Tom Lonergan was allowed make the run unmarked to rise above the onrushing Paul Martin and head to the net for his 12th goal of the season and the crucial first strike on the night.
The Blues found themselves on the back foot having been stung by the opener, with former Blue Dara Keane at the heart of all things positive for Andy Myler’s UCD, who looked comfortable in possession.
Anything that Waterford did create came down the left flank, with Sam Todd having to be live to a fine cutback from Patterson to deny a waiting Aouachria a sudden equaliser.
Suddenly, Waterford awoke on 23 minutes and barring a great save from Moore, it would have been level. Shane Griffin pressed superbly to win the ball back in midfield and he combined with Patterson to play in Yassine En-Neyah one on one, but his curling effort was blocked by the feet of the Students shotstopper and out for a corner. Again, it was another moment that showed Patterson had the better of his marker on every occasion.
Another huge opportunity went amiss for UCD moments later, Sean Brennan sliding in Mark Dignam who thankfully blazed high and wide from another clear opening, with the Blues seeming to struggle when the Students drove at their defence, continually retreating and inviting their opponents into space.
Patterson tried his luck from range to no avail on 27 minutes, with Sobowale doing the same moments later as the game began to lose some of it’s early intensity. Niall O’Keeffe was next to blaze over from 35 yards as Danny Searle’s side looked somewhat devoid of any clear attacking impetus.
A Sobowale low cross was cleared by Todd as the elements began to show their effect, rain thrashing down on Inchicore as the half-time interval beckoned. And soon it sounded, Waterford needing a spark to break down a resolute Students backline, as the Dubliners hit the break a goal to the good.
The Blues were fortunate not to be two behind upon the resumption, Keane letting fly from the edge of the box but his effort skipped narrowly wide of Paul Martin’s post before Patterson was off target at the other end. Waterford then appealed for a penalty against Jack Keaney for barging Niall O’Keeffe but that was waved away by the man in the middle, Rob Harvey.
Darragh Power was booked for a relatively innocuous challenge on Sean Brennan soon after, a decision which incensed Danny Searle - but he would have pleased with the endeavour of his side as they tested the Dubliners when Griffin’s looping cross asked questions of Kian Moore who just about dealt with it.
Junior Quitirna was appearing with far more prominence from the beginning of the second half, and when he was tripped by Brennan, Patterson stepped over the ball from 25 yards, and although he’s found the net on numerous occasions from those situations this campaign - there was no conviction in the strike which sailed over.
Paul Martin was called into action by Lonergan as he sought a brace on the hour mark but he caught the effort with a degree of comfort to Waterfords relief. However, they were being outworked and outfoxed, and something needed to change. Evan Osam continued to have the answers for all of Sobowale’s deliveries down the right, as the Blues struggled to break down the UCD rearguard.
They very nearly did so on the hour mark as Patterson stung the palms of Moore with a fizzing strike from 20 yards, as further penalty claims were then waved away as Aouachria was fast-tracked out of getting to the rebound. A Quitirna strike was well blocked as the Blues smelt blood, but Thomas Lonergan proved a constant thorn in their side as his hold-up play frustrated the First Division outfit.
A Darragh Power cross fell to Alex Baptiste but he miscued his strike as it hit his standing leg, before a Patterson free kick cannoned back off the face of a brave Sam Todd. With 20 minutes left, Waterford needed something and fast.
Quitirna then fired over from a Killian Cantwell cross as Waterford began to get on top, but without testing the goalkeeper. As the Blues began to commit men forward, with that came the sense that they left themselves increasingly vulnerable at the back.
On 73 minutes, Waterford would have been level were it not were for a top class intervention by the excellent Sam Todd. Shane Griffin and Tunmise Sobowale combined in the box and as the latter looked set to strike in at the near post, Todd went full stretch to divert his effort behind for a corner.
Not one Waterford player remained in their own half as the Blues threw the kitchen sink at a goal which could save their season. Patterson flashed another effort wide on 75 minutes as Raul Uché prepared to enter the fray in place of Sobowale. Quitirna had another effort diverted by the unflappable Todd before another Patterson strike found a similar fate. Darragh Power headed wide before Phoenix was again denied by a covering defender as it seemed increasingly likely that it wasn’t going to be Waterford’s night.
Osam made a good foul from a UCD perspective when caught on the wrong side of Quitirna on 84 minutes, but the same man redeemed himself when blocking the former Charlton winger’s effort. Perhaps the closest Waterford went all evening was a moment later, when Cantwell collected a dropping ball from 25 yards and fired agonisingly wide on the half volley.
Uché headed wide from a Quitirna cross as the thoughts of another First Division campaign began to materialise. Running out of chances, three minutes of added time were called.
Waterford’s misery was soon compiled, as Cantwell kicked out at Jack Keaney - and a second yellow card followed. With two minutes left, they were down to ten men and staring another First Division campaign in the face.
Against all the odds, amazingly the Blues were given a penalty, a dropping ball into the box found its way Aouachria and he headed it on to Patterson who sent a cracking volley toward the net which was adjudged to have been handled by Jack Keaney. Replays showed the effort actually hit Keaney’s back.
With the entire season riding on one moment, up stepped Junior Quitirna with 93 minutes on the clock, and he skied the effort over the bar. The Premier Division dream sailing away with it, as UCD greeted the sound of the final whistle with celebrations.
Playoff heartbreak again for Waterford, as they will play in the First Division again in 2023.
Waterford FC: Paul Martin; Tunmise Sobowale (Raul Uché ‘75) Alex Baptiste, Killian Cantwell, Darragh Power; Niall O’Keeffe, Shane Griffin, Yassine En-Neyah (Dean Larkin ‘88); Junior Quitirna, Wassim Aouachria, Phoenix Patterson
UCD: Kian Moore; Michael Gallagher, Jack Keaney, Sam Todd, Evan Osam; Sean Brennan, Evan Caffrey; Alex Nolan (Donal Higgins ‘83), Dara Keane, Mark Dignam; Thomas Lonergan
Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin)
