Gaffney Grabs Points for Girls

Abbie Gaffney (pictured above) was the goalscoring heroine for Waterford FC’s Under-17 girls on Saturday as they won a tough battle 1-0 away to CK United at Killeshin. Gaffney, captain on the day, scored a brilliant header from an excellent Ali Lyons corner in the 39th minute of a bruising encounter against a very hard-working and direct Carlow-Kilkenny team. Midfielders Lyons and Claire O’Donoghue covered every blade of grass for the Blues while Zoe O’Sullivan was a constant threat in attack. Credit to Laura Beresford too as she was outstanding at centre back. Waterford, missing numerous key players in recent weeks, could have put the game away, but were rebuffed in several one-on-ones by Ireland goalkeeper Sofia Blackmore. Then, it was the turn of Blues keeper Hannah Dobbyn to stop a certain equaliser with an outstanding left-footed save inside the final five minutes to secure a well-deserved win for the girls in blue. 

 

Jesse Dempsey closes Adam Byrne down (Pic by Shamrock Rovers)

Waterford’s Under-20s had to settle for third place in their group as they were pipped for elite phase qualification on the final day by Bray Wanderers. The Blues had won three games in a row, and were unbeaten in five, going into Saturday’s decisive tie away to Shamrock Rovers. However, a Rovers side including first team stars Max Kovalevskis and Naj Razi were too strong on the day. Adam Byrne scored twice for the Dubliners in the first half and two goals in the 73rd and 76th minutes by Kovalevskis and Jack Greene, respectively, ended Waterford’s hopes. Alan Zborowski pulled one back, but a late goal from Lenix Lynch gave Rovers a 5-1 win which denied the Blues a top-two finish after a strong group phase.

The Under-17 boys had a tough battle with Shamrock Rovers at the Roadstone Academy on Sunday, but couldn’t quite overcome an early deficit. The Hoops, unbeaten so far this season, raced into a two-goal lead thanks to two Noble Tetteh goals in the first twenty-two minutes of the first half. Waterford, who had a goal controversially disallowed for offside, clawed their way back into the game with a penalty from Daire Cummins halving the deficit just before the hour mark, but a 75th-minute breakaway strike by substitute Harry Rehill sealed a 3-1 win for the hosts. The Blues will move on to Tier Two South now and look to match last year’s appearance in the Mark Farren Cup final.

 

Conor Dempsey goes highest for the U17s (Pic by Shamrock Rovers)

With both teams already guaranteed their place in the elite stage of the league as top-two finishers, Saturday’s clash between the Under-15s of Waterford and Shamrock Rovers had little riding on it. The Blues took the opportunity to rotate their squad and Rovers went on to win 4-0 at SETU Arena thanks to goals from Robert Morgan, Pearse Colwell and two from Fionn Crowe. The Hoops team then stopped off at St Otteran’s cemetery on their way home to pay their respects and lay flowers at the grave of the great Paddy Coad. Despite the loss, Waterford have more important games ahead as they are set to test themselves against the best in the country now through the summer months.