- Aidan Breen
- Fri, Apr 12 2024
Waterford and Galway United played out a scrappy 0-0 draw in what were challenging conditions at the RSC on Friday evening.
The home side began brightly and indeed, could have found the net twice within the opening ten minutes.
First, Maleace Asamoah shot straight at visiting goalkeeper Brendan Clarke from an excellent position after an inviting cross from the left from Harvey Macadam.
Clarke again came to the visitors rescue in the ninth minute, turning Rowan McDonald’s fine effort from outside the box around the post following a cross that was only partially cleared by the Galway defence.
In between however, Stephen Walsh was narrowly off target for Galway with a speculative header that dropped narrowly wide following a Conor McCormack cross.
Indeed, this was to be the first of no fewer than four opportunities that Walsh carved out for himself over the opening 45 minutes.
In the 18th minute his acrobatic effort from inside the area was comfortably dealt with by Waterford keeper’ Sam Sergeant, while in first half stoppage he twice went close to giving the away side the lead. Firstly, he was denied by a superb last-ditch tackle from McDonald after latching on to a David Hurley through ball following a fine tackle by Vincent Borden in midfield.
From the resulting corner, Walsh then fired over from close range after the ball broke kindly for him.
Aside from the opening flurry, Waterford struggled to create much of note over the rest of the half, although they did put together some nice passages of play in the midfield at times and Connor Parsons looked increasingly threatening on the left as the half wore on.
Ben McCormack will have been disappointed not to have made more of Parson’s assist from the left in the 41st minute, shooting tamely wide at the near post.
At the other end, it was Karl O’Sullivan, along with the aforementioned Walsh who was looking most likely for Galway as the first half came to a close.
On the resumption, the home side again began brightly, prompted by the driving runs of midfielder Ben McCormack.
Padraig Amond was first to threaten, heading tamely over from a Ryan Burke cross in the 48th minute.
Midfielder Macadam then missed his kick from a good position following excellent approach play from McCormack
In truth however, these were fleeting moments of goalmouth action in a hugely disappointing second half.
Aside from a speculative attempt from substitute Christie Pattisson following impressive play from centre-back Grant Horton inside the final ten minutes, the home side had to wait until the fifth minute of stoppage before seriously threatening to break the deadlock. However, Amond was denied by a fine save from Clarke from his well struck free kick.
Galway on the other hand, despite playing with the aid of a fairly strong breeze, offered next to nothing as an attacking force after the interval, with tame efforts from Borden and substitute Aodh Dervin summing up their efforts.
Dervin and fellow sub Wassim Aouachria did at least inject some energy into the visitors’ laboured looking attack, with Waterford winger Asamoah also forced into a crucial last-ditch tackle to deny the former after an excellent run by Hurley. Indeed, it was first half sub Al-Amin Kazeem that was probably their other standout performer during the second period.
Overall, however, a draw was probably a fair result. Waterford, as the home side probably didn’t do enough to win the game, however manager Keith Long will be pleased with the clean sheet.
For John Caulfield, the result represents a useful point on the road. However, Galway’s goal shy streak now stretches to one goal in the last six games, something the Westerners will surely have to improve upon if they are to climb the table.
Waterford: Sam Sargeant; Ryan Burke, Grant Horton, Darragh Leahy, Darragh Power; Maleace Asamoah (Connor Evans 85), Harvey Macadam (Niall O'Keeffe 71), Ben McCormack, Rowan McDonald, Connor Parsons (Christie Pattisson 77); Padraig Amond.
Subs not used: Matthew Connor, Kacper Radkowski, Joseph Forde, Romeo Akachukwu, Dean McMenamy, Gbemi Arubi.
Booked: Ryan Burke (22), Maleace Asamoah (69), Connor Parsons (75), Ryan Burke (89).
Sent off: Ryan Burke (89).
Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Killian Brouder, Regan Donelon (Al Amin Kazeem, 11), Jeannot Esua, Robert Slevin; Vincent Borden (Wassim Aouachria 83), Edward McCarthy (Aodh Dervin 68), Conor McCormack, Karl O’Sullivan, Stephen Walsh; David Hurley.
Subs not used: Joe Wright, Patrick Hickey, Conor O'Keeffe, Francely Lomboto, Maurice Nugent, Leo Gaxha.
Booked: Brendan Clarke (58), Conor McCormack (66), Killian Brouder (72), Aodh Dervin (90).
Referee: Paul Norton.
Attendance: 2,537
extratime.com Player of the Match: Rob Slevin (Galway United)
