Cup Joy in Sizzling Sligo Sun

The cup run continues for the impressive Under-14s of Waterford FC after another great away win on Sunday afternoon. Having beaten Dundalk 2-1 up in Oriel Park last week, the young Blues faced an even longer journey this weekend to play Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds. Derek Browne’s team produced an amazing comeback from two down to win 5-3 in a sensational game played in sweltering heat.

Sligo opened the scoring eighteen minutes into the match when Luke O’Connor’s corner found its way to the net directly. Waterford found a timely equaliser right at the end of the first of the three half-hour periods when Ryan O’Neill struck a beautiful free-kick past Rovers goalkeeper Alfie Looby.

It looked ominous when Sligo raced into a 3-1 lead early in the middle period through goals from Ryleigh Helly and Daniel Maye. This Blues team has shown great character and togetherness so far this season and they had to dig deep once more. First, Evan Scully found the net after a pass from Rian Roche to narrow the deficit. And the Blues were level by the end of the second period when Roche, again, assisted striker Enoch Mich for the equalising goal.

Having fought back with great determination, Waterford pushed on to win the tie in the final period. Captain Aaron English played a great ball into Mich, who turned his marker and rifled a shot to the top corner to put the Blues in front for the first time. Then, they wrapped up an outstanding win when Danny Rakel met Terry Renwick’s accurate corner with a powerful header to the net.

 

 

It was a fantastic team performance with all the squad contributing with rolling substitutions. After two long, but successful road trips, let’s hope they get a home draw in the quarter-finals. The team on the day was Shay Massey, Liam Dooley, Daire Herlihy, Terry Renwick, Jonathan Akaehomen, Aaron English, Sean Cullinane, Liam Meehan, Rory Crowley, Ryan O’Neill, Callum O’Sullivan, Jack Clarke, Dylan Hegarty, Enoch Mich, Daniel Rakel, Tommy Moloney, Evan Scully and Rian Roche.

The draws haven’t been kind to Waterford’s academy teams in this year’s cup competitions with tough away trips at every turn. The Under-15s won in Kerry last week and progressed to face Shelbourne away next Saturday. The Under-20s were given a difficult task facing a very strong St Patrick’s Athletic in Blanchardstown on Saturday and went out of the Enda McGuill Cup on a 2-0 scoreline. St Pat’s had disposed of Cobh Ramblers 6-0 in the previous round and are fancied for league and cup honours at this grade. 

A particularly young Waterford side battled gamely and the game was in the balance until the final minutes. Sammy Ogungbe eventually broke the deadlock after 38 minutes when he fired past Igor Bacela. The Dubliners made their lead more comfortable in the 78th minute when Kian Quigley scored the second. Defeat for the Blues, but a strong performance upon which to build in the next phase of the league.