Aidan Corbett
Waterford FC - 1 (McMenamy 7')
Galway United - 2 (Walsh 61', Brouder 67')
Attendance - 2,357
Referee - Paul Norton
Waterford FC rocked up to the Regional Sports Centre knowing that a loss would almost certainly close the curtains on their season.
Fellow promoted side Galway United were the visitors. The Tribesmen had become a familiar foe for the Blues in recent years. Waterford’s last win against the Connacht side arriving in late 2022 in a promotion play off tie at The Market’s Field in Limerick.
An expectant Blues faithful arrived through the turnstiles, hoping to rectify that recent pattern.
Surprising to some, Keith Long named an unchanged panel from last week's three nil loss to Saint Patrick's Athletic in Dublin.
If Waterford were to come away with all three points, they would have to find a way past the league's runaway golden glove leader, Brendan Clarke. The Galway stopper had 16 clean sheets from 31 matches before kick off.
It was a loud, scrappy affair to begin with neither side creating any chances of note until Jimmy Keohane drove forward with no challenges appearing in front of him. His strike was deflected, looping towards the top corner, only to hit the top of the crossbar.
Waterford got a hold of the ball after that moment and settled themselves with decent possession.
Waterford were awarded a free kick just inside the Galway half on six minutes. The ball was clipped into the back post and fortunately found its way in to the path of Dean McMenamy who smashed the ball past Clarke, ensuring no clean sheet for the Tribesmen on this occasion.
The crowd were bouncing and providing the noise Assistant Manager Matt Lawlor asked for earlier in the week. Long justified in his starting selection.
A loose back pass in the Galway defence put Sam Bellis through on goal and after attempting to round Clarke, was bundled over resulting in a penalty kick. Yellow card for Clarke.
Within ten minutes, Waterford had the chance to go two up against their fellow European contender rivals.
However, Clarke made amends, saving from Pádraig Amond who went for the bottom right corner.
The penalty miss didn't dampen the atmosphere inside the RSC though. Waterford remained on top and the crowd were loud and proud with what they were seeing from their team.
Bellis was looking lively for the Blues, constantly a threat down the channel of the Galway back line.
Galway's impetus improved at the quarter hour mark. Both sides knowing there was a long way to go in this fixture.
Waterford were putting their bodies on the line. McDonald blocking a strike from the edge of the box from Vincent Borden.
Twenty minutes played and the Blues had the lead, but the Tribesmen were knocking on the door with consistent territory in the Blues half.
After a spell of possession, Waterford regained composure and after a lovely ball was whipped in from the left hand side, Amond thought he had made up for his spot kick miss, but Clarke thwarted him yet again.
Galway's physicality was clear to see for all in attendance with the majority of aerial duels being won by the western outfit.
After some route one play from the Blues, Galway broke down the left hand side, crossing into the near post only for Darragh Power to make a superb block.
Rowan McDonald was then pinched of possession in the middle of the park, and Galway United pounced on the opportunity, sending Jimmy Keohane in on the right hand side, but Waterford got a crucial block from Kacper Radkowski to halt the attack and clear their lines.
Waterford themselves then broke, with a poor tackle from Conor McCormack in midfield resulting in a yellow card.
Darragh Leahy was the next Blue to make an important block. A dangerous strike from the edge of the box just arcing wide for a corner. Waterford were living dangerously with their one goal lead.
Galway piled on the pressure before half time, target man Patrick Hickey heading on goal only for Sargeant to save. Shortly after, a free kick led to a scramble in the Blues box, bodies piled on the floor to make contact with the ball before the referees whistle blew. Free out for Waterford.
Galway's pressure was beginning to tell with Waterford struggling to make it out of their own half for sustained periods.
The Tribesmen's aggressive play was leading to a lot of half chances but also a lot of fouls. Three Galway players found themselves in the referee's book before half time.
An entertaining first half drew to a close with the match far from finished. A big 45 minutes laid ahead for both teams.
Galway began the second half just as they finished the first. A long throw in from Brouder led to a corner kick after some nervous murmurings from the crowd.
Barry Baggley went down shortly after. The physios arrived. Baggley walked off the pitch. Relieved sounds emanated around the RSC.
More nervy moments arrived from set pieces, but Waterford held firm to start the second half.
Karl O'Sullivan nearly levelled affairs before the hour mark after a corner kick was half cleared to him on the edge of the box, but his shot slammed wide.
Waterford nearly broke away after some sustained Galway pressure, but a loose pass inside the Blues half turned over possession and Galway slipped in down the right hand side. The ball was crossed in and Stephen Walsh turned the ball past Sargeant. 1-1.
Waterford tried to fight their way back into the lead. A lovely cross from Ryan Burke found Amond but he couldn't steer his effort on goal.
A free kick on the edge of the Waterford box for the Tribesmen was hit by Greg Cunningham. The strike was deflected and after an attempted clearance, the ball cannoned in off of Galway's Killian Brouder to put Galway ahead. 2-1.
With twenty minutes to go, Long shook things up by changing to a four at the back. Wingers Parsons and Pattison entering the fray.
The change in shape opened the pitch up for Waterford but no clear cut chances appeared before the 80th minute.
The Blues were struggling to find that final pass to unlock the Galway defence for an all important equaliser.
Ryan Burke took matters into his own hands driving inside on his right foot and just dragging his effort wide of the target.
Five minutes of additional time rung out over the tannoy to a roar of encouragement.
Waterford piled bodies forward putting the Galway defence under pressure but the experienced Clarke soaked up time when possible.
A cross from Darragh Power was flicked on by Sam Glenfield but the onrushing Amond just couldn't reach the flick on.
Waterford were afforded one last chance, with a free kick being awarded on the right hand side. Baggley's delivery came to nothing and the referee called a halt to matters.
Waterford FC: Sargeant (GK); Power, Horton (Pattison 72'), Radkowski (Arubi 84'), Leahy, Burke; McDonald, Baggley, McMenamy (Parsons 72'); Amond, Bellis (Glenfield 65')
Subs: Jones (GK), O’Keeffe, McCormack, Parsons, Evans, Glenfield, Pattison, Arubi, Flynn
Galway United: Clarke (GK); Horgan (Esua 45'), Buckley, Brouder, Cunningham; Keohane, McCormack (Hurley 45'), Borden (O'Keeffe 84'), O’Sullivan (McCarthy 65'); Walsh, Hickey (Slevin 90')
Subs: Brady (GK), O’Keeffe, Donelon, Slevin, Hurley, Burns, Lomboto, McCarthy, Esua
