Waterford United 3-0 Wexford Youths

• Brendan White
• Fri, Mar 05 2010


Waterford United started the season with a 3-0 home victory against Wexford Youths following a superb all round performance in the RSC on Friday night. The Blues made it look easy at times as ten-man Wexford were unable to stop Stephen Henderson’s men.

Waterford United started the brightest and grabbed an early lead after just seven minutes. Timmy Purcell ran at the Wexford Youths defence before sending a superb low pass through to Vinny Sullivan. Sullivan kept his cool to round Holden before scoring.

Purcell was again causing problems ten minutes later when his cross took a deflection off ex-Waterford defender David Breen but Packie Holden held onto the ball.

Wexford Youths were reduced to ten men after 20 minutes. Warren Broaders was shown a straight red card by referee Graham Kelly following a two footed lunge at Waterford United captain Kevin Murray.

The Blues continued to create chances and Dean Broaders almost scored into his own net when slicing a clearance from a Liam Kearney cross. Murray rose highest from the resulting corner, but Holden saved well.

Wexford Youths should have equalised on the half hour. A poor attempted clearance from 'keeper Chris Konopka went straight to Gary Sheahan, who crossed to Danny Furlong, but he mishit his shot from five yards.

Vinny Sullivan had a chance to double the lead on 38 minutes after his shot was blocked at the back post, following Seamus Long’s flick from Alan Carey’s header.

Ten minutes into the second half, Waterford United doubled their lead. Paul McCarthy played the ball down the left wing to Willie John Kiely. Kiely raced toward goal, Youths defender Aidan McCann slipped at the vital moment, and Kiely slotted the ball over Holden to make it 2-0.

Liam Kearney showed his quality throughout the game and was involved again on the hour mark. His superb left wing cross was cleared by Broaders, with the resulting corner dropping to Paul McCarthy, but his low drive was well held by Packie Holden.

The third goal arrived after 71 minutes. Paul McCarthy sent a ball down the left wing to substitute David Grincell. He raced into the box and was fouled by Aidan McCann. Alan Carey stepped up to power the resulting penalty straight down Holden’s goal.

A fourth goal almost arrived with just two minutes remaining, with Kearney again involved. His pass into Sullivan’s path, allowed the striker to shoot first time, only to see his looping shot drift wide of the far post.

The final minute almost produced the goal of the game, as Gary Dunphy’s 30 yard rocket struck the crossbar, with Holden beaten.

Waterford UnitedChris Konopka; Alan Carey, John Hayes, Kevin Murray, Kevin Waters; Timmy Purcell (Gareth Cambridge 67’), Seamus Long (Gary Dunphy 80’), Paul McCarthy, Liam Kearney; Vinny Sullivan, Willie John Kiely (David Grincell 67’).
Substitutes not used: James O’Sullivan, Paul Carey.

Wexford YouthsPackie Holden; Anto Russell, Warren Broaders, David Breen, Anthony Wolfe (Aidan McCann 35’); Patsy Malone (Chris Kenny 77’), Declan Broaders, Shane Dempsey, Danny Furlong (Lee Aust 86’); Gary Sheahan, Jimmy Keohane.
Substitutes not used: John Byrne, Pa Doyle.

Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Liam Kearney