Notice for Noonan

It was refreshing to hear Waterford getting more than a cursory mention in national media this week with actual ANALYSIS of the team on the LOI Central podcast thanks to guest Johnny Dunleavy. The Donegalman has been to both of the matches at the RSC this season and watched the away game in Drogheda on Virgin Media too. The presence of a non-Dublin guest brought more discussion of the Blues team on the otherwise-excellent podcast than in the whole of last season. Even when Pádraig Amond was on the show before, the conversation was kept away from any real insight into the team dynamic. Dunleavy, formerly of Cork City, Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps, had some very interesting points on Waterford’s start to the season, Jon Daly’s tactics, and high (although slightly inaccurate) praise for Conan Noonan.

Dunleavy began by describing the game he saw in the RSC last week. “Pre-game, talking to a couple of people – I know it’s early in the season, but it felt like a very significant game. It felt like a significant match to both teams, in that, both were probably searching for a win, but searching for a performance as well.” 

Johnny is a former league and cup winner with Cork City and it was interesting to hear his thoughts on the Blues’ approach this season. “I suppose since Jon Daly has come in at Waterford – and I’ve seen them a couple of times. I’ve actually seen all three of their games this year - I watched the Drogheda match on telly as well. He’s come in and the formation he wants to go with is a four-four-two, which is fine because, naturally, and probably totally understandably, he wants to have both Tommy Lonergan and Pádraig Amond in the team. What they’re sacrificing then from there is control in the middle of the pitch and that’s difficult against some good teams in the League of Ireland. It was probably more evident in the first two matches in that both central midfielders were changed in both the first two matches after about fifty to sixty minutes, which is really unusual.”

 

John Dunleavy leading champions Cork City in 2017

Now living in Kilkenny, Dunleavy saw improvement in Waterford last week. “But Friday night was a lot better from a solidity point of view from them. Watching the game, it never really felt – bar one chance for Archie Meekison after ten minutes – it never really felt like Sligo were going to score. Largely down to Conan Noonan and Glenfield in the middle of the park.” How welcome it was to hear from a different point of view with Sam Glenfield even getting his first-ever mention on the show (which, to be fair, covers provincial clubs more than most national media does). 

Dunleavy gave a rave review to Waterford’s record signing and it was wonderful to hear it, albeit slightly misinformed. “Conan Noonan’s maturity is beyond his years as far as I can see when I’m in there. He’s 19 years of age and he’s controlling the game in a ‘two’ in the centre of midfield. He’s an excellent player – really good to watch.” Noonan, of course, turned 23 last month so, while he may have the look of a schoolboy for the rest of his career, he has gained quite a bit of experience in the six years since he made his League of Ireland debut.

It was just jarringly-different to hear such in-depth attention on the Blues in national media – not for some scandal or other, but to examine the team’s shape, strategy and personnel. Even a recent interview with Conan in The Sunday Independent was almost exclusively about his time with Shamrock Rovers. The Irish Sun has their own podcast with Neil O’Riordan hosting. While a very good journalist, his contacts book is very capital-centric so episode one featured Pat Flynn (I’m going to guess not for his time with Waterford) and when episode two was advertised as being with ‘Detser’ (Bohemians coach Derek Pender), I predicted that episode three would have to be on Keith Ward. I was wrong – it was Shels and Bohs legend Owen Heary instead – but ‘Wardy’ was episode four. They will surely even things up with a St Pat’s man soon – ‘Bermo’ or ‘Ozo’? Or maybe ‘Johnny Mac’.  

 

Sam Glenfield's existence was finally acknowledged in national media (Noel Browne)

Later in this week’s LOI Central podcast, Dunleavy (the ex-captain of Cork City) chose Noonan as his ‘One to Watch’ from the league as a whole, saying “Waterford, obviously, paid quite a bit of money for him - €50,000, as far as I know, to sign him. But, as far as I’ve seen in the first three games anyway, it’s been more than worth it. I watched him down there last year and probably what was evident was his technical ability. But, for a 19-year-old, the maturity that he shows and….let’s say that when they were in trouble against Shelbourne in the first game, they moved him in from the wing to play in a ‘two’ in centre midfield and the pattern of the game completely changed. So, it’s not alone his technical ability – his physical ability to cover ground as well. Nasty in the tackle, two good feet. He’s a really, really exciting player. I’ve been so impressed with him so far this year.” Really high praise from a player who saw it all in Ireland while also spending parts of his career in England and Canada. 

Summing up last week’s match, Dunleavy felt it was a missed opportunity for Waterford to get three points on the board on a night that won’t live long in the memory. “On the balance of it, like a lot of games on Friday - given the whole league was nil-nil at half time – the first half was largely forgettable. There wasn’t all that much happened now, but Waterford did certainly shade it and probably will feel they should have come away with the win. And, obviously, Pádraig Amond missing the penalty, they’ll certainly feel like they should have won the game.”

Fair and interesting points from a different, provincial voice for a change and worthy of being shared with Blues fans. Whether that control in midfield is sacrificed again to Derry City in The Brandywell tonight, or Conan Noonan continues to shine, we’ll just have to see, but it is nice to have some focus given to what Waterford do on the pitch for once.

 

Main image: Conan Noonan controlling midfield against Shelbourne (Ken Sutton)