A perfect Super Saturday for Waterford FC academy teams
Waterford FC Under 15's that beat Wexford FC at the SETU Arena.
It was a perfect day for the Waterford FC academy on Saturday with three wins from three, ten goals scored, and none conceded. First team defender Seán Keane went from the bench at the RSC against Bohemians on Friday to opening the scoring for the Under-20s away to Wexford on Saturday afternoon. In what is always a fiery game with so many players and coaches having crossed between the two clubs, Keane headed the Blues into the lead in the ninth minute. Orion Cala doubled the advantage midway through the second half, and Igor Bacela kept a clean sheet, helped by a rock-solid defence, in a vital 2-0 win.
The Under-15s continued their superb start to the season with a 5-0 win at home to Wexford. The three Irish internationals all contributed on their arrival back from the Netherlands, with Nathan Power and Billy Carney scoring (Carney’s a glorious free kick) while Jack Barden had an assist and a clean sheet. The two Charlies - Stamper and Flynn – headed in goals while Aeden Sumner netted for the second week in succession when he got on the end of a sublime pass from Danny Blake.
It was a Tramore treble for the Under-17s girls in a 3-0 win against Klub Kildare. Ali Lyons scored twice with Zoe O’Sullivan also hitting the net as the two new signings from Tramore AFC continue to impress.
The opener in Carriganore came from a short-corner routine after just five minutes when Lyons played a one-two and thumped an unstoppable shot across goal into the top corner. O’Sullivan stretched the lead to two on 66 minutes when she controlled a fabulous through-ball from Megan O’Regan, rounded the goalkeeper and finished.
Lyons made the points safe with her second goal twelve minutes from time when she ran from deep to seize on a defence-splitting pass and found the bottom corner from twelve yards. The back three of Laura Beresford, Grace Coffey and Sophie Whittle were immense and special mention for Imogen Power who covered every blade of grass from midfield.
On Sunday, the Under-14s were denied a win right at the death in a 2-2 draw against Wexford at SETU Arena. This was a hard-fought battle in a typical derby game and was scoreless through the first two periods thanks to some great defending. Keelan Kinsella eventually broke the deadlock for Wexford early in the final period, but Waterford turned the game on its head with quickfire goals from Danny Rakel and Evan Scully. The Blues were unfortunate not to be further ahead as Rian Roche had seen his effort strike the post, but the visitors salvaged a draw with a dramatic late free-kick scored by centre back Devin Walsh-Rowe.
Waterford’s Under-17s fell to a 3-1 defeat away to Wexford having taken an early lead. Harry Farrell headed in the opening goal at Wexford CBS in the 15th minute from a Keelan Brennan cross and the Blues led at the break after a cracking opening half with lots of chances for both sides.
The hosts equalised with a goal from former Waterford player Charlie Mullan eight minutes into the second half and the game turned on a red card three minutes later when the Blues were reduced to ten men after the denial of a goalscoring opportunity. Wexford went in front after 69 minutes when Filip Kopczak got the final touch to a great delivery by Mullan and the Slaneysiders wrapped up the win when Kopczak scored direct from a corner inside the final ten minutes despite a brave effort from the visitors.
Finally, the Under-23s continued their campaign in the new Women’s Development League with a 1-0 loss to Cork City at Mitchelstown’s Brigown Park.
A tight affair was decided by Phoebe O’Shea’s strike midway through the second half. Waterford had their chances in a very even game, but were unlucky not to take them.
