Blues win through with lone Costello strike
Jason Healy kept a cleansheet as Waterford FC beat Bandon in the Munster Senior Cup. Photo: INPHO
Calum Costello notched the only goal as the Waterford FC Under 20 side progressed into the next round of the Grandon’s Toyota Munster Senior Cup as his lone penalty strike saw David Breen’s side a narrow 1-0 over West Cork side Bandon AFC at the RSC.
After the home side had a chance from an early Costello right-wing corner, it was Blues keeper Jason Healy that made a stunning save to deny the visitors from Leeside the lead goal inside three minutes.
Brendan Cullen found space for himself out on the right-side before teeing the ball up for Paul Nnotum on the top of the penalty area, but his cracking right-footed shot was turned around superbly by Healy at his near post.
Zak O’Sullivan got behind the Bandon defence on seven minutes, but the flag was raised for offside before the hosts forced four corners that came to nothing. There was a chance for Waterford on 13 minutes.
Costello, who scored the winner when the Blues won the cup with victory over Kerry last season, burst into the penalty area from the right, and after O’Sullivan missed the ball, defender Adam Kelly got into a brilliant intervention.
Waterford did strike the front from the penalty spot four minutes later. Kyle White, who was making his debut for the club after missing out on last season through injury, played the ball over the top for Jan Wozniak, who was fouled by keeper Kevin O’Brien with Costello drilling the penalty to the corner.
It took a super save from O’Brien to deny the hosts their second goal just past the half hour mark when Zac O’Sullivan found space for himself down the right before crossing for Aaron Cass, but his well-struck left-footed effort was well kept out by a strong stop.
O’Sullivan had a big chance to extend the Waterford lead on 38 minutes when he latched onto a through ball from Kyle White, but keeper O’Brien made another great save before Fidel Pululu fizzed a ball that took a deflection inches wide of the far left-hand post.
The second-half saw Waterford continue to dominate and they had another great opportunity to extend their lead on 66 minutes. Jesse Dempsey sent over a left-wing cross that fell at the feet of Zac O’Sullivan, who turned brilliantly before having his shot superbly saved with Dylan Warren firing the rebound over.
It was a defensive error from the Blues that nearly gifted a chance to Bandon on 75 minutes when a misplaced pass saw the ball fall at the feet of Paul Nnotum in front of an opening goal, but the attacker blazed a ball wide with Jason Healy out of position.
Jason Healy; Fidel Pululu (Shane O’Sullivan 46), Alan Zborowski (Matt Barrett 84), Sean Keane, Jesse Dempsey, Aaron Cass (Jack Garrett 59); Kyle White (Alex Sheehan 46), Mikey Carroll, Calum Costello (Dylan Warren 59); Jan Wozniak, Zak O’Sullivan.
Kevin O’Brien; Jack O’Donoghue, Mark O’Driscoll (Conor Payne 59), Lee Holland, Adam Hunt; Dylan Wilmott (Conor McKahey 76), Brendan Cullen, Paul Nnotum (Peter Craig 76), Gerard Rice; Dean Harrington Harte (Cathal Dineen 69), Adam Kelly (Luke Harrington 69).
John S Walsh assisted by Gary Fitzgerald and Chris Maher.
