Waterford FC 1 St Patrick’s Athletic 1

A last second moment of madness cost Waterford FC all three points in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash with St Patrick’s Athletic as Aidan Keena rescued the Saints from the penalty spot in a cracking game at the RSC.

Veteran defender Kevin Long picked up and injury in training during the week which forced him out and his loss was evident as the Blues reverted to a four man defence. Sam Glenfield came into the midfield with Jorgen Voilas also starting after a good display last week in Derry as Dean McMenamy dropped to the bench.

Waterford started brightly and forced two big chances in as many minutes. A Will Johnson long throw was flicked on by John Mahon but the ball trickled across the goalmouth and then a wonderful cross from Jordan Houston was met by the diving Voilas but Joseph Anang leapt to his left to touch it away.

St Pat’s best chance came immediately afterwards when Joe Redmond flicked a ball behind the defence for Kian Leavy who sprung the offside trap but he fluffed his lines as he dragged his shot wide of Stephen McMullan.

Waterford thought they had a penalty after the half hour when Violas appeared to be clipped by Luke Turner and referee Rob Hennessy pointed to the spot but he reversed the decision after consulting his assistant Emmet Dynan and instead issued a yellow card to the Norwegian.

However, Waterford’s hard work paid off five minutes before the break when another Johnson long throw caused problems for the Saints’ defence and in the second phase, Tommy Lonergan found Conan Noonan who fired home through the legs of James Brown.

They started the second half much the same and forced their first corner on 47 minutes where Noonan delivered a deep cross for Benny Couto and he nearly caught Anang at the near post but the keeper parried it away for another corner.

And they kept the pressure on the visitors with a raft of corners and long throws which really tested the visitors’ defence though Lonergan came close with a header that flew just over and he came close on 68 minutes when he broke away but Anang got down to save.

Pats’ first corner of the second half on 77 minutes nearly produced the equaliser as Aidan Keena’s pinged effort was met by the inrushing Joe Redmond but his glancing header flew wide of the post and it was the Pat’s captain who tested McMullan with a long range effort three minutes later.

Aidan Keena then fired over from 25 yards as Pats sought desperately to get back on level terms. And as the game eased into added time, it looked as if the points would be secured but the home side were punished for not clearing their lines as panic brushed across the team with just seconds remaining and when Hayden Cann’s rash challenge on Aidan Keena sent the Pat’s striker sprawling on the turf, Rob Hennessy had an easy decision.

Keena dusted himself down and stepped up to send McMullan the wrong way to break Waterford hearts with literally the last kick of the game.

Waterford FC: McMullan, Houston, Cann, Mahon, Couto, Glenfield, Johnson, Noonan (Coyle 89′), Voilas, Amond (McMenamy 82′), Lonergan

St Patrick’s Athletic: Anang, Hoare, Redmond, Lennon, Keena, Leavy, McClelland (Breslin 46′), Palmer (Baggley 21′), Brown (Nugent 77′), Turner (Forrester 69′), Edmondson (Rooney 77′)

Referee: Rob Hennessy (Dublin)