Noonan impresses as the Blues book semi-final spot
Waterford FC defender Andy Boyle was on target as the Blues beat Treaty United in the Munster Senior Cup. Photo: Sportsfile/Stephen McCarthy
Conan Noonan put in an impressive performance in his first competitive game for Waterford FC as he scored and assisted twice as the Blues booked their spot in the semi-final of the Grandon’s Toyota Munster Senior Cup with a 4-2 win over Treaty United at a bitter RSC on Friday evening last.
After an Under 20 side beat Bandon in the last round, Blues Head Coach Keith Long opted for a near full strength team for this game against the Limerick side with the four goals coming in a rampant second-half display against the First Division side.
Waterford forced the first corner-kick of the game on four minutes that saw on-loan winger Conan Noonan send in a brilliant ball to the near post that found the head of Andy Boyle, but he couldn’t direct his close-range header on target.
There was a glimpse for striker Maarten Pouwels four minutes later when he rose to early to meet a Ryan Burke left-wing delivery, but his header failed to find the target before Lee Devitt was high over the bar at the other end after a Lee Lynch corner.
When assistant referee Simon Drislane failed to raise his flag for a blatant offside on 22 minutes, it gave Treaty a chance to get behind the Blues defence that saw Yousef Mahdy latch onto the ball on the top of the area, but his low shot was well handled by keeper Stephen McMullan at the second attempt.
The visitors had an effort on goal once again three minutes later when a free-kick from midfield saw Lee Lynch peel off his marker to latch onto the ball on the left-side, but his first-time strike was wide of McMullan’s near post.
Lynch split the Waterford defence with a sublime through ball that picked out the run of Mahdy out on the right on 27 minutes, but after he got behind the defence, his low right-footed shot was well held by keeper McMullan.
Treaty keeper Corey Chambers came to his sides rescue with a stunning save on 41 minutes when Ryan Burke throw found Pouwels, who chested the ball down into the path of Padraig Amond, but his first-time shot was turned around the posts by the former Waterford netminder.
There was another chance that Yousef Mahdy carved out for himself at the other end two minutes later when he latched onto a through ball from Lee Devitt, but his right-footed shot from the top of the penalty area lacked power to trouble McMullan.
The second-half was only six minutes old when Waterford struck the front direct from a corner-kick when Conan Noonan stood over the ball out on the left and his inswinging delivery beat keeper Corey Chambers to give the hosts the lead.
It could have got even better for Keith Long’s side on 58 minutes when Maarten Pouwels picked up possession of the ball out on the left-side, but his 20-yard right-footed strike that had keeper Corey Chambers beaten came crashing off the upright.
Long’s side did double their lead with a second goal eight minutes later. New signing Noonan was involved again as he swung in a brilliant free-kick from the left to the near post where Ryan Burke headed home from close-range.
After Treaty boss Tommy Barrett made five changes on 71 minutes, it was two substitutes combined when Vojtech Ptacek sent over a cross from the right that found Dean Owens at the back post where he stabbed home from close-range.
Waterford regained their two-goal lead nine minutes later from another set piece when Navajo Bakboord sent over a right-wing cross that found the head of Padraig Amond, and he beat keeper Corey Chambers with a brilliant downward header.
A fourth goal arrived for Waterford on 82 minutes when the impressive Conan Noonan sent over a super right-wing corner that found Andy Boyle and he powered a close-range header past Chambers before Dean Owens capitalised on a mistake in defence in the final minute to add a second for Treaty.
McMullan; Bakbooard, Boyle, Radkowski, Leahy (O’Brien 88), Burke; McCormack (Glenfield 71), McDonald, Noonan, Pouwels (Lonergan 66), Amond.
Chambers; O’Connor, Walsh, Boevi, Devitt; Conroy (Owens 71), B Lynch (Healy 71), L Lynch, Doherty (Lawlor 71); Mahdy (Dolia 71), Tarmey (Ptacek 71).
Lucas Keating (Cork).
