Blues denied a vital victory by a last gasp dramatic penalty
Waterford FC's Conan Noonan celebrates with Padraig Amond. Photo: INPHO/Stephen Heaney
Waterford FC were denied a deserved victory in heartbreaking fashion as a stoppage-time penalty from Aidan Keena earned St Patrick’s Athletic a 1-1 draw in an absorbing SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash at the RSC.
Graham Coughlan's side looked poised to secure all three points after Conan Noonan's first-half strike gave the Blues a deserved lead, but their efforts were undone in the dying seconds when Keena converted from the penalty spot to rescue a point for the visitors. It was a cruel ending for Waterford, who had created the better chances on a sweltering evening and were left frustrated by a series of contentious moments throughout the contest.
The hosts made an impressive start and almost broke the deadlock after just eight minutes. Jordan Houston delivered a superb cross from the right and Jorgen Voilas met it with a powerful header, only for St Pat's goalkeeper Joseph Anang to produce a magnificent flying save. The visitors responded almost immediately when Joe Redmond burst forward from defence and played Kian Leavy through on goal, but the attacker dragged his effort wide of the far post.
Leavy remained a threat and later forced Stephen McMullan into a near-post save before combining with Ryan Edmondson on 28 minutes. Leavy slipped a clever ball behind the Waterford defence, but Edmondson was unable to keep his left-footed effort on target.
A major talking point arrived four minutes later when referee Rob Hennessy awarded Waterford a penalty after Voilas went down under a challenge from Luke Turner. However, after consultation with assistant referee Emmett Dynan, the decision was overturned and Voilas was booked for simulation.
The Blues put that disappointment behind them to take the lead on 40 minutes. Hayden Cann's cross from the left was brilliantly hooked back across goal by Tommy Lonergan and Noonan reacted quickest, his effort taking a deflection off James Brown before finding the net beyond the helpless Anang.
St Pat's almost levelled before the break when Turner picked out Edmondson inside the penalty area, but his header drifted narrowly over McMullan's crossbar.
Waterford began the second half strongly and came close to doubling their advantage within two minutes of the restart. Noonan's corner found Benny Couto at the back post, but Anang was again equal to the task, producing another outstanding save to turn the defender's effort around the post.
The home side felt aggrieved again on 57 minutes when television replays appeared to show St Pat's defender Sean Hoare stamping on Lonergan in an off-the-ball incident that went unnoticed by the officials.
Waterford continued to press for a second goal. Will Johnson volleyed narrowly wide before Lonergan headed over from another dangerous Noonan corner. Lonergan then forced Anang into yet another save after being played through by Voilas.
As the game entered its closing stages, St Pat's began to build momentum. Redmond headed narrowly wide from a Keena corner before testing McMullan with a powerful drive from distance that the Waterford goalkeeper did well to tip over.
With victory seemingly within touching distance for Coughlan's men, the game turned dramatically in stoppage time. Deep into the fifth minute of added time, a goalmouth scramble ended with Hayden Cann being adjudged to have fouled Keena inside the area. The Saints striker held his nerve from the spot, sending McMullan the wrong way and converting with the final kick of the game to earn his side a dramatic share of the spoils.
McMullan; Houston, Cann, Mahon, Couto; Voilas, Johnson, Glenfield, Noonan (Coyle 89); Amond (McMenamy 82), Lonergan.
Anang; Brown (Nugent 77), Hoare, Redmond, Turner (Forrester 69); Keena, Lennon, Palmer (Baggley 22), Edmondson (Rooney 77); Leavy, McClelland (Breslin 46).
Rob Hennessy.
Attendance: 2,533.
