Shield Success and an Epic Eleven

Waterford FC’s Under-19 girls team reached the final of the Shield competition with an excellent 3-1 win against St Patrick’s Athletic at SETU Arena on Sunday. Having disposed of Sligo Rovers comfortably with a 4-0 win in last week’s quarter-final, the Blues maintained their momentum by taking the lead in the opening minute of the semi-final when Kate Tomkins took a pass from Lillie Holloway to score. They were two up inside ten minutes when Cliona Kearney notched, with the assist provided by Olivia Shannon, who won the inaugural Young Player of the Year award for the Waterford Women’s team at the weekend. Kearney turned provider for Tomkins to score her second midway through the second half with Shauna Doyle netting a consolation goal for the visitors. Waterford will now face Dundalk in the Shield final on the 27th of October.

 

Muhammad Oladiti delivers a free kick in the U20s' clash with Bohemians

Tomkins had already scored for the Under-17s the previous day in their terrific 5-1 win away to Cobh Ramblers. Cobh’s Alex O’Reilly negated Waterford’s early advantage from Tomkins, but goals from Jodie Roche and Eva O’Gorman put the Blues 3-1 up by half time. Roche doubled her tally on the hour mark and substitute Abi Rossiter completed the scoring as the girls finish third in a very competitive Tier Two South.

The Under-15s ran riot at Carriganore on Saturday in a lopsided 11-0 victory against an overmatched Limerick side. Temmy Gazal scored four and Cormac Lowry three, with a goal each for Alex Capocci, Jack Ryan, Aaron Brennan and Evan Lonergan. Meanwhile, Nathan Power was on target again for the Under-14s, but an own goal and a Noah Glynn strike gave the visiting UCD a 2-1 win. 

Sunday saw a battling 2-1 win for Waterford’s Under-17s boys at home to Cobh Ramblers. Lewis O’Dea gave the Corkmen a fifth-minute lead, but Jack Garrett levelled from the penalty spot after 18 minutes. The decisive goal came with just eleven minutes left when Peter Byrne set substitute Callum Slattery up to finish and take the spoils for the Blues. The win lifts Waterford to second place in Tier Two South and ensures they qualify for the Shield playoffs. 

 

Shane O'Sullivan sends the Bohs keeper the wrong way from the spot

Finally, a particularly young Under-20s side had a narrow 3-2 loss to Bohemians at SETU Arena on Saturday with first team Interim Head Coach Matt Lawlor watching proceedings. It was an even affair until the visitors nicked two goals just before half time with Jack Birrell reacting to tap home after Igor Bacela did well to save a Josh Harpur header and then Christopher Conlon clipping a finish over the keeper to the far corner. Waterford showed resilience to pull one back immediately on the restart of the second half when Seán Keane flicked the ball towards Fidel Pululu for an assured finish. There were limited chances for both sides, but Bohs made it 3-1 in the 78th minute when Zac Thomas benefitted from a tight offside call and lobbed Bacela. Again, Waterford fought back and Shane O’Sullivan won a penalty five minutes later for a handball, which he converted himself, but the Blues couldn’t find an equaliser.