1/4/90: Blues win the First Division

It’s 35 years today since the Blues won the First Division for the first time by beating Sligo Rovers in a title-deciding playoff at Kilcohan Park. Waterford United had finished ahead of Sligo by virtue of goal difference and both teams were guaranteed promotion. The two-legged playoff was just to decide the outcome of the title. The Blues were given home advantage in the second leg, but knew they had a battle on their hands having lost 1-0 in the Showgrounds in the first leg.

 

 

This was a fiercely-contested game with both clubs desperate to secure silverware despite having already earned promotion. Sligo fullback Tommy Wilson conceded a penalty after 25 minutes with a rash challenge on Paul Cashin. Martin ‘Mock’ Reid sent goalkeeper Nicky Brujos the wrong way from the spot-kick to level the tie on aggregate. 

 

The clashes only got more ferocious with Paschal Keane stretchered off with a nasty head wound that required nine stitches and Mark Browne suffering a broken ankle. That meant that teenagers Derek O’Connor and Gary Coad were thrust into action by manager Johnny Matthews much earlier than planned. “A crude off-the-ball foul” on O’Connor saw Pierce Walsh sent off for the visitors right on the stroke of half-time. 

 

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Sligo forced Martin Quinlivan into several top class saves with the Tipperaryman needing to be in his very best form to keep United ahead. Alan Barry was dominant at the back also, but the Blues never made the extra man count with a huge crowd watching and hoping. With no breakthrough, another thirty minutes were required to decide the destination of the First Division title.

Three minutes into the second period of extra time, the moment we all waited for came. Joe Brazil was fouled and Cashin delivered a perfect freekick into the area where Kevin Power “rose majestically” to place a downward header into the net. ‘Blossom’ Quinlivan still needed to make a big save from Gavin Dykes before the final whistle was greeted with a pitch invasion. 

 

Captain Kevin Kelly lifted the trophy on an occasion which is still remembered as one of the great days for the club. It was an all-local team aside from Scotsman Vinny McCarthy, but after 49 years here, even Vinny is a local too. The names Coad, Arrigan and Keane run right through the history of the Blues so it was fitting to have representatives of those family dynasties involved. 

That other naturalised Waterfordman, Johhny Matthews, celebrated in typically entertaining style by jumping off the dugout into fans while wearing his lucky Superman boxer shorts outside his tracksuit. The party went on all night and half the town had the dreaded Hoffmans Hangover on Monday morning. 

 

Martin Quinlivan; Kevin Kelly, Kevin Power, Alan Barry, Joe Brazil; Pat Arrigan, Vinny McCarthy, Paul Cashin, Mark Browne (Gary Coad, 33); Paschal Keane (Derek O'Connor, 32), Martin Reid.