Time running out for manager Jon Daly after Showgrounds shocker
The time is ticking on Jon Daly's reign as Waterford FC manager after Sligo defeat. Photo: Noel Browne
The pressure is mounting on Waterford FC manager Jon Daly as his side are still winless in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division after going down disappointingly to Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Saturday evening.
After back-to-back draws over the Easter bank holiday weekend seemed to give Daly extra time in the managerial hotseat, one would suspect that this seventh league defeat of the season against the second-from-bottom side in the division will give owner Jamie Pilley cause for real concern.
A toothless first-half display from Waterford saw Archie Meekison’s 18th-minute finish separate the sides at the break, but it should have been more, and although the early stages of the second-half were bright from a re-jigged Daly side, a gift from Arlo Doherty for Will Fitzgerald to finish, settled the tie.
Sean McHale found himself in a well-advanced position on the left side of the Waterford penalty area after eight minutes, after linking up with Will Fitzgerald, but the full-back blazed his effort over Arlo Doherty’s crossbar.
Trae Coyle got the better of Jeannot Esua down the left-side on 16 minutes before crossing into the centre whilst stumbling for Jorgen Violas, but under pressure from the Sligo defence, he couldn’t convert from six yards.
After the Blues had a strong penalty appeal turned down when Luke Heeney looked to be pushed in the area two minutes later, the home side were celebrating the breakthrough at the other end seconds later.
Sam Sargeant’s long clearance found Cian Kavanagh out on the left, who in turn fed Fitzgerald clear in the corner, and the former Blues attacker played the ball across the face of the goal for Archie Meekison to tap home from close range.
Kevin Long nearly put through his own net when trying to clear a dangerous Esua delivery after he got past Benny Couto’s intentions with ease, but thankfully from his viewpoint, the ball just cleared the near post for a corner that Carl McHugh volleyed over.
Meekison went close to doubling the lead for his side from a set piece on 36 minutes when Dean McMenamy gave away a free-kick in a dangerous position that saw the midfielder cautioned, but the effort from the former was deflected inches over Doherty’s crossbar.
The home side continued to cut through a disjointed Waterford with another chance going to waste for John Russell’s men three minutes later as Fitzgerald crossed from the left for Ollie Denham, but the defender headed wide of the near post.
Blues boss Jon Daly made a double change on 41 minutes as he tried to change system, but it was Carl McHugh who went close a minute later, but the midfielder blasted just over from the top of the penalty area.
There was a big let-off for the Blues in the final minute of the half as they conceded a dangerous free on the edge of the area that saw Meekison's delivery looking almost certain to find the far corner, but Sean McHale somehow headed over from underneath the crossbar.
Waterford started the second-half a bit brighter than what manager Daly saw in the first 45 minutes, with Kevin Long very unlucky not to convert from close range with a header after a Jordan Houston cross five minutes into the half.
Sligo were handed a gift of a second goal with 57 minutes on the clock as goalscorer Archie Meekison eased his way past his marker down the right before his cross wasn’t dealt with by some kamikaze goalkeeping from Doherty, and Will Fitzgerald tapped home from a yard.
Benny Couto was denied a goal for the Blues on 65 minutes when Houston found space for himself out on the right before crossing to the back post for the inrushing full-back, but keeper Sam Sargeant got a strong hand on his shot to divert it away from the danger area.
Doherty made amends for his second-half error when he made a great save to deny Sligo their third goal through a Cian Kavanagh header on 75 minutes as the netminder turned the ball around the posts before Trae Coyle was denied by a flying Sam Sargeant save ten minutes from time with a shot from distance.
Tommy Lonegan took a pass from Trae Coyle deep into second-half added time before having his left-footed strike turned around the posts with John Mahon heading straight at the former Blues netminder from the resulting corner as the wait for a win in the 2026 season continues for the Waterford faithful.
Sargeant; Esua, Denham, McElroy, McHale; McManus, McHugh (Blaney 77); Meekison, Patton (Nolan 77), Fitzgerald; Kavanagh.
Doherty; Zborowski (Houston 41), Mahon, Long, Couto; McMenamy (Glenfield 60), Heeney, McLaughlin (Carty 60), Voilas (Cann 41), Amond (Lonergan 70), Coyle.
Arnold Hunter
