Carroll produces super double penalty save in semi success
Waterford FC Under 15 players Aaron Brennan and Cormac Lowry, who scored the goals in their game against Drogheda United.
There was more success for Waterford FC’s girls last weekend as the Under-17s reached the final of the Shield after a thrilling penalty shootout win against Finn Harps. The tension of the occasion was clear for both sides in a very even first ninety minutes in Dundalk’s Oriel Park. Jodie Roche gave the Blues the lead in the 18th minute from a Rachael Duff pass, but the Donegal girls equalised after half-time through Ava Greer. It stayed 1-1 through the ninety minutes and required another thirty.
Waterford dominated extra time, but couldn’t score. The closest call was when Emma Bibby struck the crossbar from distance, but no further goals were added. On to the shootout, with Kate Tomkins, Roche, Bibby and Abi Rossiter scoring from the spot and Isabelle Carroll making a save before Meadhbh Doherty sealed the win with the final penalty to send Waterford through to the final. Five excellently taken spot-kicks with the girls showing nerves of steel in the circumstances. They will now face neighbours Wexford in the final next Saturday at 1pm in SETU Arena.
On the boys’ side of the academy, the Under-15s are through to their Shield semi-final after an excellent 3-1 win at home to Drogheda United on Saturday. Aaron Brennan scored twice and assisted Cormac Lowry for the other as the Blues took a three-goal lead by half-time with a six-minute scoring blitz approaching the break. Brennan had an excellent game overall and was rewarded for his hard work throughout, while Temmy Gazal impressed with two assists. Gearoid Hannigan pulled one back for Drogheda in the 78th minute, but Waterford were worthy winners and will now face UCD in the semi-final. Best wishes to Evan Lonergan, who needed hospital treatment for a nasty broken nose sustained in the match.
Eddie Nolan’s Under-20s finished up their season with a 1-0 defeat to Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds on Sunday. Waterford’s exceptionally young squad ended the year in sixth place in the country, having qualified for the elite phase, and is set up for an exciting season next year if it can build on this. There were Under-20s debuts for Mason Murphy and Temmy Gazal as substitutes, while Peter Byrne made his first start at this grade.
The Under-14s, missing key players, slipped to a 2-0 derby defeat against Cork City on Sunday with goals from Will Twomey and Matko Simek. It was good to see the hard-working Rian Byrne captaining the Blues for the day. Waterford were without Jack Barden, Billy Carney and Nathan Power, who are all on the way to Alicante for the week, having been called up to the Republic of Ireland Under-15 squad for games against Spain on Tuesday and Thursday—best of luck to the new Boys in Green.
