Waterford make it two wins from two at the Kennedy Cup
Waterford Schoolboy League Kennedy Cup squad that beat Clare. Photo: Andre Thompson
A crucial penalty save from Waterford keeper Kajtek Splawski inside five minutes was a pivotal moment as the Waterford Schoolboy League went onto win their second game at the SFAI Subway Kennedy Cup with a 2-0 win over Cavan/Monaghan.
After a brilliant 3-1 win over Clare in their opening fixture, Tosh Cleary’s side started sluggishly in this contest with Conor Goodman sending over a right-wing cross inside 20 seconds that set up Cormac Doherty, but his first-time shot cleared the crossbar.
James Stokes was inches wide of the far post at the other end a minute later after cutting in from the right, before Cavan/Monaghan won a penalty on five minutes when Goodman was fouled in the area, but Splawski made a stunning save to deny Daire Slowey.
Hugo Thompson nearly grabbed his second goal of the tournament on 10 minutes when he raced clear on goal, but keeper Joshua Lawrence made a great save to keep his side. Billy Flynn was denied the lead goal for Waterford sixty seconds later as his well-struck free-kick struck the outside of the post.
The opening goal arrived with 12 minutes on the clock when Flynn sent over a left-wing free-kick that was touched on into the path of Samuel Olarewaju, who hooked the ball past keeper Lawrence from deep inside the penalty area.
After Ryan Prenderville and Joey Robinson both went close to adding to Waterford’s lead before the berak, the big second goal that secured the win arrived on 36 minutes as Dungarvan’s Callum Curran finished superbly from the top of the penalty area with a fantastic right-footed strike. After Clare shocked the Midlands League in the other group game, a draw against the latter at 4pm will secure a place in the quarter-final of the Kennedy Cup.
