Blues slip to Tallaght defeat through another nightmare moment
Waterford FC midfielder Sam Glenfield in possession of this ball ahead of Matthew Healy during their SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division clash played at Tallaght Stadium. Photos: INPHO/James Lawlor
A nightmare moment from Waterford FC goalkeeper Stephen McMullan after he failed to control a Danny Mandriou shot that was turned home by substitute Rory Gaffney gifted Shamrock Rovers three points in this SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash played at Tallaght Stadium on Friday last.
After picking up four home points against Bohemians and Shelbourne in their two previous games, the Blues were holding their own against the league leaders before this costly error, as John Coleman’s side lacked the cutting edge in attack, with Conan Noonan missing out against his parent club.
It was the post that denied the home side a lightning quick start on five minutes when Graham Burke got space down the left before crossing to the back post for Danny Grant, but his first-time shot struck the near upright with Stephen McMullan beaten.
Burke continued the impressive Rovers' start three minutes later when the centre forward picked up the ball on the right-side of the penalty area, but his angled right-footed effort flew wide of McMullan’s near post.
The Blues put together a great passage of play that yielded their first chance on 16 minutes. Rowan McDonald and Ryan Burke linked up for the latter to send Jesse Dempsey free down the left, and his cross found James Olayinka, who saw his first-time left-footed shot kept out by a strong Ed McGinty save.
Josh Honohan brought out a stunning save from Waterford keeper McMullan six minutes later, as Graham Burke was the man who slipped in the Republic of Ireland International, but his cracking strike from the top of the penalty area was superbly turned around the posts.
Burke continued to cause problems for the Blues as he was halted in his run just outside the area on 25 minutes and his daft touch from the resulting free kick teed up Danny Mandriou just outside the area, but his right-footed effort cleared Stephen McMullan’s crossbar.
The home side continued to probe for the opening goal with another chance coming their way on the half-hour mark. Roberto Lopes set up Mandriou with a neat pass, and the midfielder let fly with a stinging right-footed drive from 25 yards, but keeper McMullan tipped the ball over the bar.
Tommy Lonergan should have done better with a chance that fell his way on 33 minutes when he latched onto a headed knockdown from James Olayinka on the right, but he opted to shoot instead of playing it inside for Padraig Amond to finish, as keeper McGinty made a comfortable save.
Burke should have done better with a chance that fell his way three minutes later, as he reacted quickest to a Lopes header in the area, but his shot was over the bar when he should’ve hit the target as the hosts continued to look a threat.
There was one final first-half chance for dangerman Burke on the stroke of the whistle as he latched onto a pass from Danny Mandriou just outside the penalty area, but he dragged a left-footed shot inches wide of McMullan’s right-hand upright.
Waterford’s first chance of the second-half arrived on 56 minutes when Olayinka touched the ball back into the path of Rowan McDonald on the left-side, but his right-footed strike was saved by McGinty with Lonergan unable to direct the rebound under pressure from Dan Cleary on target.
The patience from the hosts was rewarded with a breakthrough goal that came from a goalkeeping error from Blues netminder Stephen McMullan on 74 minutes. Rovers broke down the left with Honohan slipping the ball into the feet of Danny Mandriou, who let fly with a shot that keeper McMullan couldn’t control, and Rory Gaffney was on hand to hammer home the close-range rebound.
Waterford were left to fight a losing battle for the remaining time on the clock as they failed to put Rovers keeper Ed McGinty under any considerable pressure, as yet again the Blues coughed up another oh so costly goal, which has been the theme of the season.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty; Honohan, Grace, Lopes, Grant (Kovalevskis 76); Watts (Gaffney 65), Healy, Mandriou (Nugent 88), Cleary; Burke (Byrne 65), Noonan (O’Neill 88).
WATERFORD FC: McMullan; Horton, Boyle, Leahy, Burke (Coyle 80), Dempsey (White 71); McDonald (McMenamy 68), Olayinka, Glenfield; Lonergan, Amond.
Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin).
Attendance: 4014
