- Macdara Ferris
- Wed, Jun 04 2014
A late goal from substitute Conor Whittle earned Waterford United all three points in Tallaght Stadium against Shamrock Rovers in this First Division clash.
The Hoops will feel hard done by as they created the bulk of the chances in the game as Blues goalkeeper Kevin Burns put in a man of the match performance.
Even when the home team beat the ‘keeper, the frame of the goal twice stopped the Hoops from scoring, as Tommy Griffin’s men scored three minutes from time to earn their third win in their last four league games.
After the Hoops took a hammering away to Longford Town last Friday, Colin Hawkins brought in a number of Premier Division players into his starting line up for this SSE Airtricity League First Division match. He added strength to the spine of his team with Craig Hyland starting in goal, David O'Connor in front of him in defence, Robert Bayly anchoring midfield and Karl Sheppard up front. This was against a Blues team with five changes of personnel from their 4-0 win over Cobh in their last outing.
It was Sheppard who had a personal duel with Kevin Burns in the Waterford goal throughout the game. The striker hasn’t got much game time with Trevor Croly’s Premier Division team this season and this was an opportunity to get some valuable action, albeit in the First Division, and he will feel unlucky not to have scored.
In the initial stages of the game, it was the Rovers netminder who was most involved. With thirteen minutes on the scoreboard in Tallaght, Hyland had the Hoops fans in attendance in heart attack territory as his ‘Cryuff’ turn in his own six yard box helped him get away from the pressurizing Paul Quilty sliding in on goal.
On the next Waterford attack Kevin O'Connor got up above Liam Traynor at the backpost to head goalwards from a Quilty cross. While he directed the ball on target, he couldn't get enough power to beat Hyland. The Rovers ‘keeper showed his footballing skills again midway through the half when his crunching challenge on Willie John Kiely cleared the ball out of the Rovers box before the Blues striker could shoot.
Just as it looked like Waterford were going to capitalise on their chances, they lost the momentum to Rovers. Burns pulled off a great save from Sheppard from an Adam Whelan cross. The striker then charged down a backpass to Burns before the Blues ‘keeper saved from Sheppard after he got on the end of a great ball over the top of the United defence by Bayly. At the other end Hyland was forced into saving Paddy Barrett’s long range effort before the final chance of the half fell to Sheppard who shot wide.
The second half continued as the first with the ongoing battle between Sheppard and Burns developing. A weak backwards header from Barrett five minutes into the second period allowed Sheppard in on goal and while his lob beat the ‘keeper, it also beat the post as it dropped just wide.
The visitors created a couple of more chances with Hyland equal to all that United could throw at him. First he saved with his feet from Brian Nolan and then he raced from his goal to punch away the ball just before Quilty could get a touch to take it by the goalkeeper. If he hadn’t timed that interception perfectly, referee Eoghan O’Shea would have given a penalty and red card. As it was Quilty went down under the fair challenge and was substituted soon afterwards.
A more orthodox fist from Hyland midway through the half set Rovers off on the attack with Stephen Confrey breaking down the left. His crossfield pass gave Bayly a sight of goal but he dragged his shot wide. 20 minutes from time Rovers hit the woodwork with Richie Purdy’s shot from Bayly cross being deflected onto the bar and out for a corner. When the ball came back in, Burns beat away Whelan’s close range shot.
Rovers pushed on to try and find the winner and left themselves exposed at the back. They got away with it on 86 minutes when Vinny Sullivan’s shot looked destined for the corner of the Rovers net before Hyland diving backwards pushed it around the post.
A minute later though Waterford grabbed what proved to be the winner through two of the Blues substitutes. Philip Drohan played in Whittle and while Hyland got a touch on the shot he couldn’t prevent it going over the line.
Even after that goal, Rovers kept pressing the visitors and hit the post in injury time with a Karl Sheppard header but it was just one of those night’s for Rovers. For the Hoops it was their third defeat in a row with Waterford moving to within a point of second place in the table after this win in Tallaght.
Shamrock Rovers B: Craig Hyland; Liam Traynor, Michael Kelly, David O’Connor, Evan Osam; Adam Whelan, Robert Bayly (Emeka Onwubiko 79), Daniel Purdy, Ryan Doolin, Stephen Confrey (Kevin Knight 88); Karl Sheppard.
Subs not used: Conor O’Malley, Nathan Brown, Conor Dunne, Azeez Yussuff, Muhanned Bukhatwa.
Booked: Robert Bayly (37).
Waterford United: Kevin Burns; Thomas Whitty, Patrick Fitzgerald, Paddy Barrett, Shaun Corcoran; Vinny Sullivan, Brian Nolan, Shane Murray, Thomas Croke 79), Kevin O'Connor; Willie John Kiely (Conor Whittle 72), Paul Quilty (Philip Drohan 63).
Subs not used: Shane Morrisey, Conor Coad, Gavin O’Donavan, Gary Delaney.
Booked: None.
Referee: Eoghan O’Shea.
Attendance: 200 (estimate).
Extratime.ie man of the match: Kevin Burns (Waterford United).
