Long heaps praise on striker Amond after super season
Waterford FC Head Coach Keith Long has heaped praise on Padraig Amond after a remarkable season where he scored 14 goals. Photo: Noel Browne.
Waterford FC Head Coach Keith Long was over in Fleetwood Town in the past week as talks around the 2025 SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division has begun with contracts set to be finalised over the coming weeks.
A number of the first-team players are still waiting to hear the plans for next season, but one player that Long is looking forward to be able to call upon is centre forward Padraig Amond, who returned to the top division with a bang and 14 goals to boot.
Commenting on a brilliant season for Amond, Long said: “He was sensational for us over the whole season and he played something like 69 games in the last 18 months, which is incredible for someone of his age.
“He covers the most distance in training, in games, and is the ultimate professional. It would have been nice for him to be outright top scorer in this league and I suppose he had two great chances to do that against Shamrock Rovers.
“I think that the goal he scored showed his class. If you look at his movement across the front post for Ben McCormack’s delivery, it's top class from a striker, but I knew what we were getting when we signed him.
“He has the power, and I had a look at a lot of his data before he signed, There was plenty of conversations prior to him coming back to the club. He was under contract at Woking and we’re thankful to Michael Doyle.
“He knew of Podge’s wishes to move back home with his young family, and I think Waterford was it was a good fit for him e as well. I knew what I was getting with him because he is the ultimate professional, great character, and a leader in terms of performance.
“He's highly respected in our dressing room at our club, but also around the league. We’re only delighted that he's extended his stay at the club because he's ever green. He can go on forever. I'm sure when he's finished and decides to pack up his boots, he'll become a really, really good coach and manager at some point.”
Commenting on the season overall, Long added: “If you look at the league table, the success for me is when you outdo your budget. I think we probably have done that. I'm disappointed how we've tapered off a little bit.
“I think that if you look at our league form, we've lost a lot of games over the last number of months, which is disappointing. We fell off it a little bit, but I thought that we went away to Pat's, more than match them, but lost 3-0.
“We more than matched Rovers on the final day, but we lose 2-1. There was another game, away at Shelbourne where we lose the game, but for large periods of game we were well in it. So there hasn't been much in some of the performances, you know.
“So have we over achieved? I would have thought a First division side coming up to the Premier Division to maintain your Premier Division status can be very difficult especially as a newly promoted side that came through the playoff system.
“I thank the players for their efforts all year. I thank the coaching staff and the backroom staff, because they're brilliant. They’ve been first class. We've had our high moments, and we've had our low moments.
“Had we have done the season in reverse and finished off how we started, I think the narrative will be completely different. From our perspective, I think it's been a successful campaign because we've maintained our Premier Division status.”
