Noonan rescues a deserved point for the Blues in Richmond battle
Waterford FC's Tommy Lonergan celebrates scoring his goal against St. Patrick's Athletic in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division. Photo: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
Conan Noonan cancelled out two first-half Mason Melia goals to earn a deserved point for Waterford FC in their SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash with St. Patrick’s Athletic, played in front of 4009 supporters at Richmond Park on Friday evening last.
The Shamrock Rovers loanee was hand to hammer home a loose ball ten minutes from time to give John Coleman’s side a massive point on the road against Stephen Kenny’s men as their performance showed great character and a never-say-die attitude.
It was an incredible start from the Blues, wearing all black, as they struck the front inside two minutes. Tommy Lonergan beat the offside trap after Conan Noonan hooked the ball over the top, and after the ball was cleared by Anto Breslin into the path of Grant Horton, his shot rebounded off defender Carl Sjoberg into the feet of Lonergan, who finished left-footed past Joseph Anang from close range.
Rowan McDonald should have doubled the lead for the Blues six minutes later when Noonan swung in a brilliant right-wing corner-kick into the centre of the penalty area, but his downward header just cleared Anang’s crossbar as the visitors started the game on the front foot.
Waterford continued to press for a second goal with Padraig Amond playing the ball inside for Grant Horton on 14 minutes, but his first-time shot was wide of the target before the former took three touches after a clearance from Stephen McMullan soon afterwards, only to blaze high and wide.
Joseph Anang produced a quite stunning save to deny the Blues a second goal on 17 minutes. James Olayinka and Amond linked up for the latter to release Horton clear on the right before he crossed for Conan Noonan, but his brilliant volley was magnificently one-handed tipped over.
The home side couldn’t lay a glove on a rampant visiting side up to this point, with Padraig Amond getting behind the Saints' defence two minutes later to latch onto a Kyle White ball, but his angled effort was cut out by a combination of Breslin and Anang.
Waterford were made to pay for those missed opportunities as the home side were back on level terms with 28 minutes on the clock. Joe Redmond cracked in a shot from distance that saw Mason Melia get to the ball in front of Darragh Leahy, before planting a low right-footed shot to the corner of the net.
James Olayinka gifted Melia a free run at goal as the hosts struck the front three minutes later when the midfielder lost possession on the halfway line to the youngster, who raced clear to beat Stephen McMullan with another well-executed right-footed finish.
Darragh Leahy gave away a free-kick in a very dangerous position that earned the centre back a yellow card for a foul on Kian Leavy on 52 minutes, but Jake Mulraney’s resulting left-footed free struck the outside of McMullan’s post.
Conan Noonan sent in another top delivery from a corner two minutes later that saw the ball land on the head of Tommy Lonergan, but his header was well kept out by Joseph Anang as the Blues tried their best to get back on level terms.
Carl Sjoberg sent in a teasing cross that was flicked on by Melia on the hour mark, but McMullan saved before Ryan Burke cut onto his right-foot a minute later at the other end, only for his right-footed shot to be comfortably saved.
Former Blues player Barry Baggley nearly put through his own net for an equalising goal on 72 minutes when Noonan put in a teasing left-wing corner to the near post, but the flick from the midfielder struck the near post.
After Stephen McMullan saved a big handball call outside of his area on 79 minutes, the Blues scored a leveller at the other end. Grant Horton sent over a right-wing cross that saw Jesse Dempsey’s shot blocked by Joe Redmond into the path of Conan Noonan, who swept the ball home from an angle.
Anang; Sjoberg, Redmond, Hoare, Breslin; Elbouzedi, Forrester (McLaughlin 56), Baggley, Mulraney (Power 56); Leavy (McClelland 73), Melia (Keena 77).
McMullan; Horton, McDonald, Leahy, Burke, White (Dempsey 63); Olayinka, Glenfield (McMenamy 85); Noonan, Lonergan, Amond.
Rob Hennessy (Limerick).
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