The Waterford Game

Very strange game this one. Waterford started brightly and went ahead after 5 minutes, after some hesitancy by Kevin Doherty in defence. Shortly afterwards they had claims for a cast-iron penalty turned down - almost as blatant as Rovers non-penno the week before. Despite this, I was not that impressed by their football. It was mainly hoof-ball, though it was quite effective as our back four were having an off day. Gradually though, Shels came back into it, and were totally dominant by half-time. Weso was having an off day but Ollie produced a couple of great runs down the left wing which could easily have produced the equaliser. Kevin Doherty was stretchered off just before half-time concussed, but the word is he's okay.
The second half started the way the first ended with Shels pressing. Within five minutes, the leveller came. Ger McCarthy took the ball down the inside left channel, cut inside and stroked it past the keeper into the net. I'm starting to feel strong feelings of lust towards that lad - not the greatest technician but honest as the day is long, and the ability to make goals out of nothing.
Shels were pressing, and it seemed we had to go ahead. Geogo saw an audacios chip with the outside of his boot go just past the post. Wes put in a few runs and caused panic in the Blues defence, Ollie whipped in a couple of humdingers that should have been finished off.
But then Waterford got their second wind with ten minutes to go and could so easily have snatched it themselves. Some great breakaway moves showed that if they tried to play football they could be very dangerous, and in the end I was happy with a point.
The absence of a tannoy means I have no idea who the Waterford players were. Their number nine caused us a lot of problems, and their number seven and Jim Crawford were going hammer and tongs all night, amazingly not spotted by an overly fussy ref. Their goalie too was very solid and made a couple of good saves.
For Shels, Willo saved us at the end again. Morgan was not quite as effective as he has been. Ollie had one of his better games. McCarthy and Geogo were a constant thorn in the Blues' defence's side.
Expected a win, happy to draw.

Blues dent Shels title claims

Shelbourne 1-1 Waterford Utd
eircom League leaders Shelbourne’s hopes of opening up an ominous eight-point lead at the summit of the Premier Division were dashed by a gallant Waterford United side at Tolka Park on Wednesday night, and the Blues can count themselves unfortunate to have left the capital with less than a victory.

Waterford held the lead for close on three-quarters of an hour following an early strike from former Bohemians man Gary O’Neill, and despite Ger McCarthy’s second half leveller, the visitors well have claimed all three points had striker Daryl Murphy not fluffed a late opportunity.

O’Neill, a revelation on Suirside since his close-season move away from the full-time routine of Dalymount Park, capped his return from a brief injury lay-off with a goal inside five minutes.

He exploited a slip by Shels centre half Kevin Doherty and fired past Steve Williams in the home goal to give the Blues an unexpected lead.

For the remaining 40 minutes of the first half, Shels dominated proceedings in their search for an equaliser, with Ollie Cahill proving a constant thorn down the left flank. Stephen Geoghegan should have equalised from one Cahill centre, while another raid from the former Cork City man saw visiting keeper Dan Connor clutching onto the ball before a flurry of Red shirts.

But the home side could count themselves lucky not to have been further behind when O’Neill again got the better of Doherty only to be cut down in the tackle. Referee Ian Stokes decided that Doherty had got enough of the ball and waved away the vehement penalty appeals of the visitors.

Shels lost Doherty to concussion before the break, but four minutes after half-time they were level, McCarthy firing past Connor at his near post after a strong run straight at the heart of the Waterford defence.

Former St Pats man McCarthy – in as a replacement for suspended top scorer Jason Byrne – had another effort blocked by John Frost, and Jim Gannon, on for Doherty, misplaced a header from an astute Thomas Morgan free.

But both sides were gunning for the three points and, at the other end, Murphy saw Owen Heary clear his goal-bound shot before his late chance was kept out by Williams.

Shelbourne – Williams, Heary, Doherty (Gannon, 45), T. McCarthy, Crawley, Crawford, Morgan, Hoolahan (Baker, 69), Cahill (S. Byrne, 86), Geoghegan, G. McCarthy.

Waterford Utd – Connor, Mallon (Hughes, 77), Breen, Frost, Byrne, O’Brien (Clifford, 59), Waters, Fitzgerald, Reilly, O’Neill, Murphy.

Referee – I. Stokes (Dublin)



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