Matt's Magic Keeps Blues Top

Waterford FC’s Under-14s enjoyed a fantastic 5-1 win against Treaty United at SETU Arena on Sunday with some of their newest signings to the fore. It took just two minutes for the youngest Blues to open the scoring when Daniel Rakel set Enoch Mich up to finish. Mich turned provider twenty minutes later when he created the chance for Jesse Julian to double the lead. Julian has been hugely impressive since joining from St Michael’s of Tipperary last month.

Ex-Southend United man Liam Dooley made it three early in the second period when he slotted home from the penalty spot to galvanise Waterford’s advantage. It was another newcomer – Louis McDonald, previously of Tramore AFC – who rounded out the scoring with two goals on his home debut for the Blues with the assists coming from Aaron English and Rakel again. The Limerick lads scored a late consolation goal, but that’s back-to-back wins now for Derek Browne’s charges who are looking strong going into the run-in of their first full season.

 

Matt Barrett scored a superb header to keep the 20s top of the league

The Under-20s earned an excellent 1-1 draw on the road in a top-of-the-table clash with Galway United in Oranmore on Saturday. These teams have been battling it out in Tier Two (South) all summer and the momentum swung in Galway’s favour when Donnacha Sammon broke the deadlock two minutes before half time. The Blues stuck to their task, playing some really good passing football and creating chances. 

The equaliser came from a well-worked set-piece midway through the second half. Bobby Keohan swung in a free kick with a superb delivery from the right sideline and centre back Matt Barrett made a late run before looping a wonderful header to the top corner beyond the reach of the goalkeeper. Waterford could have claimed all three points near the end with Orion Cala unlucky to hit the post and Fidel Pululu having a goal harshly disallowed. The point keeps Eddie Nolan’s men top of the table, a point ahead of Galway with four games to play. 

The Blues Under-17s boys extended their unbeaten streak to four with a stunning 3-1 win away to Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds on Sunday. Bray top the Tier Two (South) table and were unbeaten to this point, but they had no answer for a whirlwind performance from Waterford. Daire Cummins notched his second goal in three games after just nine minutes from a pass by Tiernan O’Brien and Under-15s midfielder Billy Carney made it 2-0 approaching half time after a smart interception. O’Brien then added the third eleven minutes into the second half with the assist coming from Harry Farrell. The hosts scored a consolation goal in the dying minutes, but Derek Hearne’s Blues move within two points of the leaders with five games remaining. 

 

Louis McDonald scored twice on his home debut for the 14s

James Ferncombe was the hero for the Under-15s on Saturday with a two-goal salvo in a 2-2 draw at home to St Patrick’s Athletic. The Dungarvan United product was quick off the mark with a goal inside the first minute of the game from an Aedan Sumner assist, but Pat’s were ahead by the 17th minute with strikes from Gethin Davies and Jack Corcoran. Ferncombe levelled seven minutes before the break when the attacking midfielder got on the end of a pass by Jacob Rose. Both teams had chances to win it in the second half, but there were no further goals. The 15s have found the going tough playing at the highest level having qualified for Tier One, but they’ll draw plenty of confidence from this display.

There was no joy for the two women’s academy teams this weekend. The Under-23s lost 3-1 to Shamrock Rovers despite Eva O’Gorman’s tenth goal in her last seven appearances. The 17-year-old attacker also impressed as a substitute in the senior team’s dramatic win in Sligo on Saturday. However, two late goals from Ireland Under-19s star Anna Butler won the day for Rovers and ended Waterford’s six-game unbeaten run. 

Meanwhile, a late rampage by Galway United crushed the Under-17s after the Blues had led on three separate occasions. Rachael Duff, Sophie McCabe and Jodie Roche each put Waterford in front, but Galway ran riot in the final quarter to win 7-3 and put an end to the Blues’ five-game winning streak. Absent was Molly Dooling who won three caps for the Republic of Ireland Under-16s in Croatia last week with the 14-year-old from Ballyduff playing against the hosts as well as Slovakia and Ukraine.