Waterford FC 1 Dundalk 1

Waterford FC extended their unbeaten run to twelve games after they came from behind to earn a share of the spoils against a spirited Dundalk side in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division at the RSC. In doing so they equalled the record unbeaten run that was set back in 2009.

Graham Coughlan had the luxury of naming an unchanged side for the first time and his bench was also the same from the cup quarterfinal. And the game started with the Blues on the front foot with the visitors having goalkeeper Enda Minogue to thank with a couple of huge saves.

In a four minute period, Waterford hit the woodwork, flashed a ball across the face of the Dundalk goal and Minogue made three saves to keep his goal intact.

Having weathered the storm, Dundalk got an unlikely breakthrough when John Mahon tuned the ball into his own net after JR Wilson picked up a loose clearance and charged into the area before driving the ball across the face of the goal where the Blues defender stuck out a leg. It was an unfortunate break for the Sligo man who had earlier been named the SSE Airtricity Premier Division player of the month for his stellar performances at the heart of the Blue defence.

In fairness to the home side, they stuck to their game plan and forced Dundalk back with Minogue again denying Padraig Amond who met a Noah Mawene cross and the Lilywhites’ netminder denied the Blues captain five minutes later when he latched onto a long clearance from Stephen McMullan and bore down on Minogue who managed to clear the ball.

But the Blues were level eight minutes before the break when Hayden Cann headed home his first goal of the season, meeting a Couto corner in style to give Minogue no chance.

Both sides continued to press looking for a winner but the second half didn’t live up to the expectations though Amond thought he had won it three minutes from time when his effort seemed to heading across the line but somehow Tom Grovosti managed to get a foot to block the effort.

Waterford FC: McMullan, Cann, Mahon, Long, Couto, Mawene, McLaughlin, Noonan, Voilas, Amond, Lonergan

Dundalk: Minogue, Animasahun, Grovosti, Wilson (Warren 61′), Tracey (Burns 61′), Buckley (Dervin 61′), Horgan, Teahan, Gaxha (McDaid 61′), Dillon, Vassenin (Groome 72′)

Referee: Lucas Keating