Blues play their part in explosive Tolka contest
Waterford FC players protest to referee Rob Hennessy after he awarded Shelbourne a penalty during their SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division clash. Photos: INPHO/Ryan Byrne.
Waterford FC played their part in an explosive SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash at Tolka Park as league leaders Shelbourne came from a goal down to beat Keith Long’s side in front of 4755 supporters at the North Dublin venue on Friday evening.
It was a clash that might have taken a while to get going, but when it did, the game didn’t disappoint as the Blues struck the front through a Padraig Amond penalty, but a brace from Sean Boyd and a stunner from Liam Burt settle the tie in favour of Damien Duff’s side.
With the home side having much of the possession in the opening 19 minutes, there was very little in terms of goalmouth action. Shelbourne did have a breakaway moment down the right that saw Sean Boyd set up Rayhaan Tullock 25-yards from goal, but his effort was blocked away by Grant Horton.
Christie Pattisson was caught in possession by Wilson a minute later as his ball picked out the run of Boyd, who in turn released Coote on the right, and after turning onto his left-foot, his low shot from the top of the area was well saved by Sargeant.
The home side continued to probe in search of the opening goal with another big chance coming their way on the half-hour. Rayhaan Tulloch got space out on the left before crossing for Sean Boyd, who in laid the ball off to Ali Coote in front of goal, but the former Waterford player miscued from a great position.
Sam Sargeant was called into action to make a smart save on 34 minutes when a misplaced Barry Baggley pass was picked up by Tulloch, who let fly from 20 yards, but the Blues netminder was equal to the task.
Waterford struck the front through a 37th minute penalty. Shane Flynn’s right-wing corner was knocked back into the penalty area by Dean McMenamy, and when John Martin went through the back of Grant Horton, referee Rob Hennessy pointed straight to the spot.
With Shelbourne arguing that Martin himself had been fouled by Darragh Power, replays seemed to back up that claim, and after failing to convert from the spot in the loss against Galway United, Padraig Amond assumed penalty duties once again to beat Conor Kearns, who had guessed right, from 12 yards.
It was a pure gift that brought Shelbourne level three minutes later as Darragh Leahy was guilty of some inexcusable defending as he was caught out by Sean Boyd out on the right, and he raced into the area to beat keeper Sargeant with a simple left-footed finish.
An explosive ending to the first-half saw a chance fall the way of substitute Liam Burt on 43 minutes when he latched onto the ball right of centre 20-yards from goal, but his thunderous strike flew inches wide of Sam Sargeant’s near post.
The second-half started with the same tempo as the first-half had finished with the home side on the attack with Boyd causing problems to the Blues defence, and it was Paddy Barrett’s free-kick into the area on 52 minutes that was well defended by Dean McMenamy.
Liam Burt forced Sam Sargeant into a fine save on 59 minutes when he reacted quickest out on the right to a Blues clearance, but his low shot was saved before the Blues had a big chance at the other end to go back in front.
A sweeping move down the right side of the area saw Christie Pattisson get past the intentions of Tyreke Wilson before putting in a teasing delivery to the near post, but Padraig Amond hooked a first-time shot inches over the crossbar.
With Shelbourne controlling in terms of possession, they didn’t really put keeper Sam Sargeant under real pressure, but the game swung in their favour from a penalty on 79 minutes. Christie Pattisson fouled Tyreke Wilson under the eye of referee Hennessy, and Sean Boyd found the net with the aid of the crossbar.
After Dean McMenamy brought an excellent save out of keeper Conor Kearns five minutes later, the goal that settled the contest arrived on 84 minutes and it was stunner. Mark Coyle and JJ Lunney combined for the latter to set up Burt, who let fly with a cracking strike that Sargeant could only get a hand too. Harry Wood went close to adding a fourth late on, but his thunderous effort came back off the underside of the bar.
Kearns; Gannon, Barrett, Ledwidge, Wilson; Caffrey (Lunney 73), Coote (Burt 40), Coyle; Martin (O’Brien 62), Boyd, Tulloch (Wood 73).
Sargeant; Power, Horton, Leahy, Burke; Baggley, McMenamy (Bellis 85), McCormack; Pattisson, Amond, Flynn (McDonald 76).
Rob Hennessy (Limerick).
