Late goals ensure an important win for Women’s Under 23s on the road
Waterford FC Under 23 Women's Development team that beat Kerry.
It was ZZ Top for the Waterford FC Under-23s as late goals from substitute strikers Zoe and Zara secured an important 3-1 victory away to Kerry on Sunday. The teams were scoreless at half-time in Mounthawk Park with Eva O’Gorman eventually breaking the deadlock five minutes into the second period to give the Blues the lead. Laura Falvey came off the bench to level for the hosts on the hour, with Waterford manager Brendan White reacting with several attacking changes.
One of those, young Zoe O’Sullivan, latched onto a pass from Kate Tomkins to reclaim the lead for the Blues when Kerry were just four minutes away from their first point of the season. With the home side pushing desperately for another equaliser, Zara Corcoran pounced to put this Women’s Development League tie beyond doubt in injury time.
Waterford’s Under-14s got back to winning ways with a well-deserved 2-1 win against CK United in Thomastown. The strong wind made conditions tricky for both sides, and it took until the end of the second of three periods before either found the net. The breakthrough came when a corner from Aaron English was headed out to Dylan Hegarty, whose shot deflected to Enoch Mich, and the former Freebooters schoolboy finished with precision.
The Blues extended their lead early in the final period when they worked an opportunity from a short corner practised in training. The hard-working Rian Roche faked the left back out to create space and crossed for Calum O’Sullivan to bury a header to the back of the net. Leigh Haughney scored a consolation goal for CK United with virtually the last kick of the game, but Derek Browne’s Waterford were happy to claim a gritty win.
The Under-20s were frustrated by a 0-0 draw against CK United on Saturday, having dominated possession and chances created without finding the all-important winning goal, even after the visitors were reduced to ten men for the final fifteen minutes. A lot of the kudos deserve to go to United goalkeeper Darragh O’Neill, who made a succession of good saves from the Waterford front three of Jack Garrett, Orion Cala and Mason Murphy.
The Blues suffered a worrying blow when they lost first-team defender Seán Keane to an ankle injury in the first half, but they were still in complete control defensively until a late Cameron Pedreschi shot was deflected just wide of the goal. Waterford piled on the pressure in the final minutes, with Bobby Keohan’s lob cleared off the line, and the same player shooting inches wide from the edge of the box.
There was late heartbreak for the Under-15s as their unbeaten record fell in a costly 1-0 defeat away to CK United at Ballon. It will, doubtless, only be a temporary setback for this outstanding side. Credit to Carlow-Kilkenny for battling to a great win thanks to an injury-time goal scored by Ethan Lawlor.
Meanwhile, the Under-17s were denied a win on Sunday in very similar circumstances as CK United struck in injury time again to earn a 1-1 draw at SETU Arena. Harry Farrell had given Waterford the lead in the 33rd minute through a chance created by Evan Lonergan. The score remained the same until deep into stoppage time when captain Darragh Daly levelled for the visitors.
