Mo's Magic and a McCabe Masterclass - Academy (21/9/25)

Muhammad Oladiti was the last-gasp hero for Waterford FC’s Under-20s in a thrilling 4-4 draw with Shelbourne on Saturday when he struck a stunning free-kick from all of thirty-five yards. This was a fantastic performance away to the best underage team in the country and Eddie Nolan’s Blues were unlucky not to take all three points. Shels are top of the league, won the Enda McGuill Cup last weekend and most of the team also beat FK Rabotnicki of North Macedonia 5-0 in the UEFA Youth League in midweek.

Jan Wozniak kicked off the action when he raced through to score and give the Blues the lead inside three minutes. Shelbourne equalised through a well-taken free kick by Tyreik Sammy, but the Dubliners were reduced to ten men after 28 minutes when defender Taylor McCarthy was red-carded. Waterford regained the lead when 15-year-old Orion Cala swivelled and scored inside the box to leave the score 2-1 to the visitors at half-time.

Shelbourne flipped the scoreline with two goals in eight second half minutes from Aaron Keogh and Daniel Mare, but it was all-square again when Shane O’Sullivan found substitute Fidel Pululu free in the box to finish in the 62nd minute. Kevin Madu made it 4-3 to Shels with just eight minutes to go and they looked set for victory as the game entered injury-time. Up stepped Oladiti, however, and the former Southend United schoolboy shocked everyone with his outrageous equaliser. There was still time for Matt Barrett to go close to winning it with the last kick of the game, but he was desperately unlucky not to score. That’s now seven points from three games in Tier One for the improving Blues with twelve goals scored in that run. 

 

Muhammad Oladiti struck an outrageous late equaliser (Photo - Paul Elliott)

Also on Saturday, the Under-17s girls had a strong 3-0 win away to CK United in a dominant and disciplined performance. An Emma Bibby pass played Megan O’Regan in on goal and she slotted the ball under the advancing goalkeeper for a 12th minute lead. Goalkeeper Sophie Carroll-Lawlor made a vital intervention with a penalty save to maintain the lead and Carlow-Kilkenny were left to rue that miss as Rachel Duff doubled the advantage just short of the hour mark when her shot went in off the post in a goalmouth scramble. Any hope the home side had of getting back into the game was being snuffed out by an outstanding display from centre back Sophie McCabe (main picture) who won an incredible number of headers in defence. Bibby then sealed the win in the 78th minute when she collected a nice pass from Amy Lyons on the edge of the box and shot first time to the bottom corner. 

Meanwhile, the Under-15s kept up their terrific form with a 2-0 derby win against Wexford at SETU Arena despite the absence of their captain Cormac Lowry who is away in Poland this week playing for the Republic of Ireland Under-16 team. Keelan Brennan opened the scoring in the 11th minute and the same player created the second for Kian Renwick to finish after 33 minutes. Craig Shead’s Blues controlled the rest of the game to stay unbeaten and just a point off the top spot in Tier Two South with four games to play.

 

Keira Burke shields the ball on Sunday (Photo - Wexford FC)

The youngest Blues drew 1-1 away to Bohemians on Sunday with Xander Coolbear’s Under-14s team taking the lead in the 16th minute when James Ferncombe set Nathan Power up to score. Bohs, managed by former Waterford United player Ray Scully, levelled midway through the first half with an unfortunate own goal and there was to be no further scoring. 

There was a 0-0 draw for the Under-17s boys away to CK United in Killeshin with ten changes to the team that started last week’s Mark Farren Cup final. It was a timely opportunity to view the rest of the squad and a good clean sheet for goalkeeper Jayden Maher and his defence.

Finally, the Under-19s fell to a 2-1 southeast derby defeat against Wexford in Carriganore on Sunday afternoon despite a late goal from Meadhbh Doherty. The defender came on as a substitute having excelled for the first team in their Premier Division fixture, also against Wexford, the previous day. Niamh White gave the visitors an early lead and Molly Kirwan added a second with seven minutes left on the clock before Doherty’s injury-time goal which was assisted by fellow first team player Izzy Walsh.