Blues lose for an eighth time this season in Tallaght defeat
Waterford FC defender Kevin Long can't hide his disappointment after losing to Shamrock Rovers in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division played at Tallaght Stadium. Photos: INPHO/Bryan Keane
Waterford FC are still searching for their first win in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division at the time of going to print after suffering another defeat on the road this time against champions Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium on Friday evening last.
After picking up a late draw against Galway United at the RSC the week previous, Jon Daly’s side were hoping to cause the shock of shocks against Stephen Bradley’s side, but a lone goal from Graham Burke gave the home side a deserved three points.
It was strange that the Blues boss opted to take off Padraig Amond and Conor Carty with just under 20 minutes remaining, but failed to replace them with any recognised striker, instead bringing on Tommy Lonergan seven minutes from time. One word – bizarre.
Amond was the man who had the best of the limited chances that fell the way of the Blues in either half, but the skipper was twice denied by Rovers keeper Ed McGinty as his side sits rock bottom of the table, nine points behind second from bottom Sligo.
The home side pinned Waterford back into their own half from the early exchanges, with Adam Brennan firing a shot just over Arlo Doherty’s crossbar from inside the penalty area after weaving through the Blues’ defence.
Brennan turned provider for Graham Burke two minutes later, but his teasing delivery against the face of the goal lacked the finishing touch before Matt Healy was just off target with a decent chance on eight minutes.
Waterford had a big chance to go in front on ten minutes when Jordan Houston played a long ball forward from his right-back position that saw Padraig Amond get past the challenge of Tunmise Sobowale, but keeper Ed McGinty stood up to save.
After Victor Ozhianvuna and Burke failed to hit the target with efforts that came their way, the home side did get the goal that their dominance deserved with 25 minutes on the clock.
Matt Healy started the move when he slipped the ball into the feet of the overlapping Enda Stevens down the left before he sent the perfect cross to the near post, where Graham Burke beat Arlo Doherty with a side-footed finish.
Rovers troubled the Blues' goal twice in quick succession on the half-hour mark, with goalscorer Burke finding space for himself to meet a Jake Mulraney pass on the right, but his low shot was saved by Doherty.
The Blues keeper was in the thick of the action again just two minutes as he kept out a well-struck effort from Michael Noonan to turn the ball around the posts at the expense of a corner-kick.
There was one final chance for the hosts four minutes before the break as Noonan eased past the challenge of Hayden Cann down the right after a long ball from Roberto Lopes, but his effort was deflected onto the post to the delight of the travelling fans.
The second-half was ten minutes old when the Blues had a big chance to draw level as Hayden Cann’s amazing ball from inside his own half was superbly controlled by Padraig Amond, but his low left-footed shot was saved by Ed McGinty.
John Mahon stood firm to get in a vital block to deny the threat of 17-year-old Michael Noonan at the other end. Soon afterwards, after some good work from Aaron Greene, the hosts tried to put the game to bed.
Jack Byrne, who went close with a first-half effort, was just over the bar with another chance that came his way on 64 minutes before the Blues boss withdrew both Padraig Amond and Conor Carty six minutes later without putting on a recognised striker.
Rovers remained vulnerable to the Blues' rare attacks, with Healy losing possession to gift the ball to Evan McLaughlin, who opted to shoot over the top when a pass to the unmarked Sam Glenfield was the ball.
As time ticked down, Jordan Faria put in a couple of dangerous balls, one that was cleared by McGinty wayward to Tommy Lonergan, but he blazed the rebound wide as the home side picked up the three points to move back to the summit of the table.
McGinty; Sobowale, Lopes (Grace 68), Stevens; Mulraney (Matthews 63), Healy, Byrne (Watts 63), Ozhianvuna, Brennan (Asamoah 68); Burke (Greene 68); M. Noonan.
Doherty; Houston (Faria 83), Cann, Long, Mahon, Couto; Noonan, McMenamy (Lonergan 83), McLaughlin (Coyle 77): Carty (Voilas 71), Amond (Glenfield 71).
Lucas Keating (Cork).
