Ireland's Call

Waterford FC’s Under-14s earned a terrific 3-1 win away to CK United on Sunday in a very strong display by the full squad. Aaron English gave the youngest Blues the lead midway through the game in Thomastown with a stunning strike from outside the box. The same player had a chance to double the lead with a penalty after Enoch Mich was fouled, but his shot was saved. Derek Browne’s Blues eventually got the second in the 77th minute when Jesse Julian hit the net with a great goal and Jonathan Akaehomen made it three five minutes later from a pass by Daniel Rakel. The hosts scored a consolation goal through Nathan Rodden deep into stoppage time, but Waterford were soon celebrating a welcome win on the road. 

Despite taking the lead twice, the Under-23s were frustrated to be held to a 2-2 draw away to St Patrick’s Athletic in Hartstown on Sunday afternoon. The game was scoreless at half time, but Kate Tomkins broke the deadlock six minutes into the second period from an assist by Abbie Gaffney. Emily Callinan equalised for the Dubliners in the 58th minute, but the Blues were back in front just three minutes later when in-form Eva O’Gorman struck from a pass by Emma Bibby. Just as it looked like Waterford would take all three points, Pat’s hit back again in the final seven minutes with a crucial leveller with centre forward Callinan scoring her second of the game. 

 

Nathan Power takes the congratulations of his teammates

On Saturday, the Under-20s lost their unbeaten record with a surprise 1-0 defeat at Treaty United. Ruari Morgan scored the only goal of the game after 57 minutes in Nenagh and Waterford, who included first team winger Jordan Faria, couldn’t find an equaliser. The Blues still remain top of the Tier Two (South) table with five games remaining. 

An agonising, injury-time goal left the Waterford Under-15s heartbroken in a 3-2 defeat away to Shamrock Rovers at the weekend. Fionn McCormack-Crowe put the Hoops ahead after just three minutes, but Nathan Power tied the game with a penalty ten minutes later. Harry Rehill made it 2-1 nearing half time, but Power drew the Blues level again midway through the second half from a pass by Cruz Chong. The visitors surely thought they had done enough to earn a point, only for McCormack-Crowe to score again in the 91st minute and take the spoils for Rovers. 

Waterford’s Under-17 girls team (below) enjoyed a very productive Development Day at Abbotstown on Saturday with all 22 players getting plenty of game time. The Blues started a little slowly and lost the first match to Kerry 1-0, but they noticeably moved up a gear to record 2-0 wins against Shelbourne (with an own goal and a strike by Eva Arslan) and Klub Kildare (Lexie Ferris and Megan O’Regan scoring) on a day where the young players learned a lot from the experience. 

 

The Under-17s in Abbotstown for their Development Day

Molly Dooling, who joined the Blues recently from Cappoquin Railway, is currently on international duty in Croatia having been called up to play for the Republic of Ireland Under-15 team. The attacking midfielder made her debut for the national team as a substitute for the last 25 minutes in Ireland’s 5-0 win over Croatia on Sunday. Having only turned 14 last month, the Ballyduff native and student of Blackwater Community School is already making her mark with the Waterford FC Under-17 team. Molly and the Girls in Green also face Slovakia on Tuesday the 25th and Ukraine on Friday the 28th in their week-long camp in Croatia. 

Also on the international front, Waterford FC’s Ronan Sullivan and Jack Barden spent last week in Wales playing for the Republic of Ireland Under-16 team. Full back Barden started the first of two games against their hosts on Tuesday with clinical finishing helping the Welsh to a 3-0 victory. Goalkeeper Sullivan (number 16 in the main photo above) made his international debut on Thursday when he played the full ninety minutes of a 2-1 win. Barden was a 75th minute substitute with Ireland’s goals coming from Conor Hudson and Ronan Keating.