Live It Up

“Improbable though it may have seemed at the start of an indifferent season, Waterford once again have reached the final tie in the FAI Senior Challenge Cup.”

That seems like a fair assessment of Waterford’s surprise mid-season recovery and progress to this year’s cup final, but those are actually the words written by the great Leo Dunne in his preview for the 1980 final in the Waterford News & Star. We all know that 1980 was the last time that the Blues won the cup. They finished seventh in the league that season. It was also the year that Mr Kevin O’Sullivan from Cork refereed the final. It was the year that a young full back who’d come over from England scored the winning goal against Athlone Town in the earlier rounds and then scored the winner in the final. And all of that meant that the captain, who was 37 at the start of the year, brought the cup back to Waterford. 

The team has already achieved so much in recent months by pulling off a remarkable escape and surging up the table, and by reaching a cup final against all odds. Having struggled so badly to create chances in the Spring, the Blues finished the season with both of the league’s top two scorers. The left back who had a nightmare start to his time on Suirside ended up as the most creative force in the country with the most assists in the division. The goalkeeper who was dropped after a five-game losing streak has established himself as the best in the league with some of the most jaw-dropping saves seen since the keeper from 1980 was in his heyday. 

There is a particularly strong team bond in this group – forged in adversity through the toughest of times. Manager Graham Coughlan has instilled a ferocious will to win for each other. Not just to win matches, but to win every ball. It can be seen in the reaction to flying blocks from defenders and in the relentless work-rate of every player. They believe in each other and in their manager and the fans believe in them. 

 

 

They are the comeback kings. Waterford earned more points (19) from losing positions than any other team in the league. Two of those came under Jon Daly and one in the interim game under David Breen and Brian Murphy. Sixteen were earned under Coughlan including that crucial first win against Drogheda, coming back from two down to win in Dundalk, and those final two wins of the season against Drogheda and Shelbourne. No matter the challenge, Graham Coughlan doesn’t flinch and neither does his team. 

There has been some suggestion in national media that Derry’s superior experience will give them an advantage today. However, their most recent cup final experience was a traumatic 2-0 loss to underdogs Drogheda United two years ago and the shadow of the man with a century of international caps, his book and his unsavoury exit from his local club hangs over the team’s preparations for this final. 

Waterford, on the other hand, have more experience than has been credited to a generally young team. Skipper Pádraig Amond and former Ireland regular Kevin Long will marshal the attack and defence, respectively, but there is maturity in John Mahon too. Evan McLaughlin will play in the Aviva Stadium finale for the second year running while Luke Heeney is attempting to win the cup twice in three years. Tommy Lonergan has already won a cup and scored in the final while Conan Noonan is a past league winner with Shamrock Rovers. Jordan Houston has plenty of experience playing in Scotland and Finland and the same can be said of Jorgen Voilas in Sweden and Norway. The Blues also have a vastly-experienced management team as opposed to Derry caretaker Mark Connolly who has just a dozen games under his belt as boss.

 

 

Whatever happens in the wake of today’s final, Waterford are set up to succeed on and off the pitch now. The city and county have fallen in love with this team. Everyone wants to see the Blues. There is no such thing as a bandwagon – if you want to support YOUR local club, do it. Everyone starts somewhere and there are thousands who want their parents to bring them to the RSC next season. 

My advice with the Blues is to live in the moment. We were told we were finished when the fantastic Phoenix and Junior left, but Ronan Coughlan came in and scored 33 goals to drag the club back into the big time. When he moved on, a certain Carlowman replaced him and was followed by the red-hot Tommy Lonergan. The Blues will always be the Blues. 

Days like today are hard-earned, but well-deserved for the people of Waterford and all our fans. Soak it up, stick with your team from first whistle to last and roar on every pass, tackle, block, header and goal. This is the start of something special. This is our time. 

(Photos by Noel Browne)