A mixed bag of results on a difficult academy weekend
Waterford FC Under 15 team that drew 1-1 with Shamrock Rovers.
The academy teams of Waterford FC faced a challenging schedule this weekend, with all four boys teams pitted against Shamrock Rovers. Saturday afternoon saw the Blues Under-20s hosting a very strong Rovers team with numerous Republic of Ireland underage internationals, and matched them all the way in a great encounter.
Lenix Lynch found a breakthrough on the hour when he beat Waterford goalkeeper Igor Bacela. The home side piled on the pressure in search of an equaliser, and the crucial moment came with just five minutes to spare. Midfielder Naz Raji, back with the Dubliners after a year with Serie A club Como, received a second yellow and a red card, which also resulted in a penalty for the Blues. Up stepped substitute Mason Murphy to dispatch the spot-kick past Todd Bazunu to claim a fully merited draw.
The Under-15s also drew 1-1, but theirs was an away trip to the Roadstone Academy in a top-of-the-table clash. Both sides held 100% records going into this game with four wins from four. Shamrock Rovers are particularly strong at this grade with eight current underage internationals coming up against three of their Ireland teammates in Jack Barden, Billy Carney and Nathan Power, so all eyes were on this encounter.
It looked as if the Blues might have sealed something on a smash-and-grab win when Power, assisted by Cruz Chong, broke the deadlock in the 80th minute for his seventh goal of the season, but the Hoops levelled through captain Robert Morgan with just four minutes left on the clock. A share of the spoils and first place in the league table, but Waterford will be very happy with a fantastic performance.
There was a third 1-1 draw on Saturday when the Under-17s girls met CK United at SETU Arena. This time, it was Waterford who found a late equaliser through Carrick-on-Suir’s Jodie Roche.
Sarah O’Leary, ex of New Ross Celtic, opened the scoring in the 79th minute and looked to have earned a big win for the Carlow-Kilkenny club, but Roche latched onto Sophie Poole’s through ball to level deep into stoppage time. The point maintains Waterford’s unbeaten start to the season with two wins and two draws to date.
The academy sides had a tough outing on Sunday, suffering two heavy defeats to Shamrock Rovers, whose underage set-up is really setting the highest standards in the country. Waterford’s Under-17s fell to a 4-0 loss to the Dubliners, led by first team striker Aaron Greene, who is their Head Coach.
His group have already developed midfielder Victor Ozhianvuna for the league champions and for Arsenal, who have agreed a €2,000,000 deal for the talented youngster. Rovers took control midway through the first half with goals from Alan Sattell and Johnny Collins, and added two more late in the game through Charlie Nolan and Archie Quinn.
Waterford goalkeeper Jayden Maher made three outstanding saves while Temmy Gazal was desperately unlucky not to reduce the deficit when his shot came crashing back off the bar.
The Under-14s lost 5-1 to the same opponents, but will feel the scoreline wasn’t a fair reflection of their overall performance. Centre back and former Waterford Bohs schoolboy Daire Herlihy scored the Blues’ goal, assisted by Terry Renwick.
The youngest Blues, playing away in Roadstone for the first time, felt aggrieved with a few decisions, including a penalty at a vital time, but will take plenty from the experience.
