Waterford United 3 - 1 Finn Harps

• Brendan White
• Sun, Oct 10 2010


Waterford United moved back into the First Division promotion places on Saturday night with a well earned 3-1 win against Finn Harps in the RSC. Goals from Vinny Sullivan and a Paul Murphy brace were enough for the win while a late Kevin McHugh goal proved nothing more than a consolation for the visitors.

Waterford United started on the offensive when Vinny Sullivan got to the end line and pulled the ball back but no Waterford player had taken the chance and the ball was cleared. Minutes later, Paul Murphy’s cross almost caught Gavin Cullen out but the keeper recovered to palm the ball onto the bar and away to safety.

Twenty-six minutes in, Finn Harps had the first real chance of the game. Michael Funston collected the ball near the right touchline, moved inside and fired a 30 yard screamer off Kevin Burns’ crossbar. Four minutes later the opening goal of the game arrived. Alan Carey’s overlapping run down the right allowed him to cross for Paul Murphy to head toward goal. His header was well saved by Cullen but Vinny Sullivan was on hand to fire home from four yards.

The lead was almost doubled within minutes. Gary Dunphy charged down an attempted clearance from Matt Crossan and raced clear one-on-one but Cullen was equal to the challenge and saved well.

Waterford United continued to attack from the start of the second period. Fifteen minutes in Vinny Sullivan had a chance to grab his second. Murphy found Kearney who in turn found Sullivan, but he chipped over the bar. Alan Carey’s cross from the right was almost turned into his own net by Matt Crossan after 67 minutes. Kevin Murray went close a minute later after heading John Kearney’s cross against the post with Cullen beaten.

The second goal did eventually arrive after 70 minutes. Kevin Burns’ long clearance found its way to Paul Murphy on the edge of the Harps penalty box and his superb lob found its way over Cullen and into the back of the net. Four minutes later, Harps almost grabbed an immediate response. Davitt Walsh flicked the ball to Tommy Bonner but his low strike was well saved by Burns.

The third Waterford goal arrived with 11 minutes remaining in the match. Substitute Paul Walsh got to the end line on the right and whipped in a cross which Vinny Sullivan glanced on at the front post. His flick found Paul Murphy who headed the ball into the bottom corner from 8 yards out.

Two minutes later, Finn Harps grabbed a consolation goal and well worked it was. James Doherty whipped in a low cross where it found Kevin McHugh, who controlled and finished low into the corner of Burns goal. McHugh had another chance minutes later but his deflected shot was saved by Burns.

Sullivan had a great chance to score in the final minute when put through by O’Sullivan but Cullen saved again; the fourth time Waterford had wasted one-on-one opportunities in the match.

The result moves Waterford United back to third place in the league table, one point behind Monaghan United in second position and five points behind leaders Derry City while Finn Harps remain eighth.

Waterford United: Kevin Burns; Alan Carey, Seamus Long, Kevin Murray, Michael Coady; Timmy Purcell (Paul Walsh 71’), Gary Dunphy (Shane Barrett 75’), John Kearney (James O’Sullivan 82’), Liam Kearney; Vinny Sullivan, Paul Murphy.
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Kevin Waters.
Booked: Sullivan, Dunphy, Long, O’Sullivan

Finn Harps: Gavin Cullen; James Doherty, Keith Cowan, Matthew Crossan, Gary Whoriskey; Thomas Bonner, Mark Forker, Michael Funston (Gary Merritt 63’), Stephen McLaughlin; Davitt Walsh, Kevin McHugh.
Subs not used: James Gallagher, Ciaran Coll, Aaron O’Hagan, Raymond Foy

Referee: Rob Rogers
Attendance: 372
Extratime Man of the Match: Paul Murphy - Two goals and caused bags of trouble all night for the Harps defenders.