Prendergast is the hat-trick kid for super Blues
The Waterford League squad that beat Mayo in the SFAI U12 Cup Quarter Final at workLAB Connors Park on Saturday last. Photo: Paul Elliott
The Waterford League qualified for the semi-final of the SFAI Under 12 National Cup after this comfortable win over the Mayo League at workLAB Connors Park on a bitter Saturday afternoon last.
Oscar Prendergast was the main man as the young striker hit a wonderful hat trick as Waterford hit eight goals to run out worthy winners.
Waterford got off to a flying start as they took the lead after only 20 seconds of play. Jayden Connolly overlapped down the left and delivered a cross to the far post. Mayo keeper Noah Dwan dropped the cross, and Waterford striker Oscar Prendergast pounced to score from close range.
The hosts doubled their lead on four minutes. Oscar Prendergast picked up the ball on the halfway line and raced past three Mayo defenders. His cross found Ben Daly at the far post, and the winger found the net with ease.
Waterford were back on the attack, and on 12 minutes, Jayden Connolly again supplied the cross, but this time Kai Walsh shot into the side netting. Ben Daly cut inside with 20 minutes on the clock, but Noah Dwan in the Mayo goal made a fine save at his near post.
A third goal for Waterford arrived less than five minutes later when Ellio Hughes played a wonderful pass into the run of Oscar Prendergast, who supplied a sublime finish.
Waterford continued to dominate the play as the second half got underway, and on 40 minutes, they increased their lead with a fourth goal. Mason O’Neill picked up the ball on the left and cut inside before firing a 25-yard right-foot strike into the far corner of the net.
Two minutes later, the home side scored again when Odhran Power arrived late at the far post to drive home a cross from Charlie Reynolds. Mayo pulled a goal back on 50 minutes when Waterford failed to clear a low cross, and Mattui Sakhnenko scored from close range.
The home side scored again three minutes later when Lucas Whelan got on the end of a corner kick from Ellio Hughes to score Waterford’s sixth goal. Minutes later, Oscar Prendergast completed his hat trick for the seventh goal, and then Odhran Power scored the last goal of the game, shooting high into the roof of the net to give Waterford a convincing win.
Ben Phelan, Ben Daly, Jayden Connolly, Jack Flynn, Michael Mullally, Archie Crotty, Kai Walsh, Ellio Hughes, Oscar Prendergast, Charlie Reynolds, Mason O’Neill, Odhran Power, Calvin Quinlan, Lucas Whelan, Joe Shaw, Evan Sheridan.
Noah Dwan, Mattui Sakhnenko, Ismail Dekhadov, Daniel Foskin, Conor Doherty, Kealan Glavey, Joe O’Donnell, Shay Glavey, Jack Halligan, Alex Dolan, Kian Lavery, Iarlaith O’Donnell.
Thomas Barry
