Waterford FC 1 Shamrock Rovers 1
Waterford FC may still be waiting for their first win of the season but they held their own for long periods against the reigning champions Shamrock Rovers in their SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash at the RSC. And having taken the lead with twenty minutes to go, they were unfortunate to be pegged back with a questionable penalty.
Jon Daly totally reshaped the team with seven changes to the side that lost out the St Pats a fortnight ago. Injuries forced a number of these changes with Stephen McMullan, Sam Glenfield and Tommy Lonergan on the treatment table after the international window.
There were three debutants with Arlo Doherty, Kevin Long and Jordan Faria coming in for their first starts while Dean McMenamy, Trae Coyle, Jess Dempsey and Evan McLaughlin all started. This meant that Benny Couto, Luke Heeney, Ronan Mansfield and Hayden Cann all dropped to the bench.
In what was a very even opening forty five minutes, there was little goalmouth action until 18 minutes when a surging run from Jack Byrne ended with a long range shot that flew over the bar.
Ten minutes later Rovers had their best opportunity of the game when a corner from Byrne was met at the back post by Enda Stevens and his header was parried by Doherty and then headed up onto the crossbar by Evan McLaughlin and out for a corner.
Rovers did have the ball in the net deep in injury time at the end of the half when Byrne’s corner was deflected into the goal by Doherty but he had been fouled by Tunmise Sobowale in the build up.
Waterford got a vital breakthrough twenty minutes from the end when substitute Jorgen Voilas picked up a long ball and when he crossed it was Podge Amond who touched it beyond ED McGinty. Minutes later, Doherty dived full length to palm away a Byrne curler that was destined for the top corner.
However, Rovers levelled from the penalty spot just nine minutes later when Jake Mulraney’s cross was adjudged to hit Jesse Dempsey’s arm and Graham Burke dispatched the spot kick.
Despite huge Rovers pressure in the closing stages, the Blues defence held firm and the final whistle was greeted with thunderous applause from the Waterford fans.
Waterford FC: Doherty, Mahon, McLaughlin (Heeney 64′), Amond, Noonan (Mansfield 89′), Coyle Carty 64′), Long (Cann 64′), Dempsey, Faria (Voilas 64′), McMenamy, Zborowski
Shamrock Rovers: McGinty, Stevens (C O Sullivan 76′), Lopes, Healy, Greene (Burke 60′), Asamoah (Mulraney 60′), Grant, Sobowale, Malley (Razi 76′), Byrne, McGovern (Noonan 60′)
Referee: Alan Patchell
