Bench Press

One of the most pleasing aspects of last week’s 4-0 win against Sligo was the positive impact from the bench of the four substitutes. Jørgen Voilås was outstanding with a goal, an assist and drawing the crucial second yellow card foul by Ollie Denham that saw the visitors reduced to ten men, already two goals down.

Conan Noonan and Sam Glenfield helped reclaim control of midfield after a worrying stretch when Sligo got on top early in the second half and looked like scoring an equaliser. They were introduced together in the 63rd minute and brought renewed energy with Conan setting Pádraig Amond up superbly for the decisive third goal. Cian Barrett also had a very good cameo in the final ten minutes when he replaced the yellow-carded John Mahon with Will Johnson dropping back into defence. 

That Voilås finish was particularly welcome as goals from the bench have been so elusive for the Blues since winning promotion to the Premier Division. That was only the sixth goal by a substitute in the 92 games since returning to the top flight. Rival clubs have consistently seen far more value from squad depth with quality substitutes able to come on and score crucial goals - Seán Boyd’s late winner for Shelbourne against us last month being a case in point. 

Waterford only had one goal by a substitute in the whole of 2024. That was Sam Glenfield’s last-minute equaliser at home to Bohs that October. Last year, the bench contributed two goals - an injury-time consolation by Tommy Lonergan at home to Shamrock Rovers in September and Jesse Dempsey’s memorable strike a month later to seal a 2-0 win (after six consecutive defeats) against Drogheda at the RSC.

 

Deano's Late Late Show against Galway could be crucial

We have now had three goals off the bench this season (still low compared to most clubs) with Lonergan’s late penalty in Galway making a 4-3 loss a little more respectable, followed by Dean McMenamy’s 95th-minute leveller against the same opponent at the RSC in April. That point may well turn out to be one of the most important of the season. Galway had battered Waterford all day without putting us away and Deano snuck in to grab a point that did little at the time for the rock-bottom Blues, but could be vital in the long-run.

Those goals only materially affected two results directly with Glenfield and McMenamy both snatching a draw from the jaws of defeat. Any club looking to survive and prosper in this division will need better impact from the dugout and that, in turn, requires greater squad depth. 

Derry nicked a point at the death at the RSC last month through substitute Henry Rylah while Dipo Akinyemi scored their winner off the bench against us in The Brandywell in February. Eoin Kenny came on in the 89th minute for Dundalk in March and still scored twice in the 5-0 catastrophe. Frantz Pierrot sealed Galway’s 4-3 win the same weekend while Graham Burke equalised for Rovers at the RSC and Seán Boyd’s aforementioned winner at Tolka Park broke Blues hearts that night. 

If Shamrock Rovers need help tomorrow, Stephen Bradley will doubtless do his trademark triple or quadruple switch with international stars and heavy-hitters joining the fray. We can’t compete with that depth, but Graham Coughlan needs to be able to trust his squad. Last week was a very positive step in the right direction.