Four is the magic number as Villa retain Premier crown
Cian Browne leads the celebrations with Aaron O'Connor, Dean Walsh and Conor Kilgannon after Villa landed the Azzurri Premier League title.
Villa made it four Premier League titles in a row as they romped home to a 4-0win over visitors Dungarvan United at workLAB Connors Park on Wednesday night last. Villa manager Conor Coad must take a lot of the credit for this remarkable upturn in the fortunes of this famous Waterford club.
The manager has put in place a squad of players over the last number of years that are totally dedicated to winning and all the players have bought into playing for the club and not for themselves. Villa have taken Junior football in Waterford to a new level and the pace, power, and passion that they have means they will be winning top trophies for many years to come.
From the opening whistle, Villa went after Dungarvan and at times it looked as if the visitors could be overrun. After only four minutes of play, Villa’s Jeff Da Silva played a clever one-two with Dean Walsh but his strike from just inside the box only found the arms of Dungarvan keeper Joshua Kay.
Minutes later, another Villa attack saw Dylan Stickel play the ball over the top for Dean Walsh and he played the ball into the run of Aaron O’Connor. However, once again Kay was well placed between the posts to save. Dungarvan stayed in the game, and in the 17th minute they almost took the lead. Alan Dunwoody lined up a free kick 20 yards from goal and his left foot strike beat Craig Dunphy in the Villa goal, but the ball flew just wide of the far post. In the 26th minute, Dungarvan keeper Joshua Kay made a remarkable double save. John Taman cut in from the left, but Kay saved at his near post, the rebound fell to Jeff Da Silva, but Kay was back on his feet to save. After 31 minutes of play, Villa’s Jeff Da Silva was sent off after he ploughed into the back of Dungarvan winger Michael Kiely and referee Ian O’Keeffe produced a straight red. Even with ten men, Villa continued to dominate the game and took the lead on 36 minutes. Dylan Stickle hit a glorious thirty-yard pass into the run of John Taman and his low cross was tucked home by Dean Walsh.
Dungarvan decided to have a go off 10-man Villa, as the second half got under way. In the 49th minute, Michael Kiely got behind the Villa defence but Criag Dunphy made a comfortable save. Minutes later Shane Rochford had a chance for Dungarvan, but Dunphy was well placed to make another decent save. Villa doubled their lead after 53 minutes when Aaron O’Connor lifted the ball over the top and Conor Kilgannon scored, after his first effort came back off the keeper.
They added a third six minutes later when O’Connor floated in a near post corner-kick, and when the ball fell to Cian Browne, he forced the ball over the line from close-range. Villa rounded off the scoring after 65 minutes. O’Connor played in Kilgannon, and he made no mistake with a fine finish. Unfortunately, Villa lost a second player to a red card, when James Kennedy also saw red in the closing minutes. At the final whistle Villa players, management and supporters celebrated in style.
Craig Dunphy, John Taman (Adam Conway 79), Dylan Stickel (Evan Ryan 78), Luke Walsh, Conor Kilgannon, Conor Whittle, Dean Walsh (Alex Phelan ‘66), Aaron O’Connor (John Browne 79), Jeff Da Silva, Cian Browne, Dylan Walsh (James Kennedy 79).
Joshua Kay, Noah Landers (Dominic Trzeciak 88), Danny Reynolds, John Moore, Greg Waters, Alan Dunwoody, Shay Cotter (Andrew Power 78), Joe Duggan, Gary Donnelly, Shane Rochford (Vicente Diaz 78), Michael Kiely.
Ian O'Keeffe assisted by Eamonn Russell and Chris Maher.
