The Day Today (August 11th to 17th)

The Day Today - in partnership with JP O'Donohoe & Co.

August 11th 2018
Skerries Town 1 Waterford 4
A Noel Hunt hat-trick sent Waterford through to the last sixteen of the FAI Cup after a game played in driving rain and wind at Skerries Rugby Club. Latvian defender Renars Rode made his one and only appearance for the Blues along with two fellow full internationals (Hunt and Puri) and one soon-to-be (Hery). Hunt opened the scoring with an ambitious effort from forty yards that caught the goalkeeper looking and Holohan had the visitors two up at the break. Brian Snowe pulled one back through a big deflection and, despite Waterford hitting the woodwork twice and having a goal bizarrely ruled out, the result wasn’t settled until the final five minutes when Hunt headed two identical goals from corners.

Skerries Town: Shane Davis, Emmet Mullin, Paul O’Carroll, Ken Costello, Keith O’Callaghan, Shane Kelly, Ross Hopkins, Eoghan Dempsey, Bob McKenna, Brian Snowe, Darren Lynch. Subs: Shane Langan, Dara Walsh, Reece Weldon.
Waterford: Niall Corbet, Dessie Hutchinson, Renars Rode, Garry Comerford, Dylan Barnett, Paul Keegan, Bastien Hery, Gavan Holohan, Sander Puri, Noel Hunt, Izzy Akinade. Subs: Courtney Duffus, Noe Baba, Dean O’Halloran. 

 

Noel Hunt celebrates in Skerries.

August 12th 2011
Waterford United 5 Athlone Town 1
Paul ‘Spot’ Murphy scored a hat-trick in a sublime individual performance for Paul O’Brien’s Blues much to the delight of the meagre 289 home crowd with faint hopes of promotion still alive. Murphy’s first was a simple finish from a Paul Phelan pass within two minutes of kickoff. David Breen headed in a second before Murphy saw a deft chip come back off the crossbar. Gary Dunphy made it three midway through the second half after a one-two with Phelan and Murphy added a fourth from a cross by McSherry. Athlone reduced the deficit through Wayne Colbert, but Murphy turned the style up another notch in the final ten minutes – scoring a 25-yard thunderbolt and going close on a couple more occasions as he toyed with defenders.

Waterford United: Kevin Burns, Paul Carey, Kenny Browne, Kevin Murray, Seamus Long, Paul Walsh, Craig Sinnott, Gary Dunphy, Paul Phelan, Paul Murphy, Adam McSherry. Subs: David Breen, Dwayne Wilson, Gary Keane.
Athlone Town: Micheal Schlingermann, Jamie Carr, Joe Woods, Paul Danagher, Declan Fallon, Wayne Colbert, Kevin Williamson, Niall Scullion, Jason Hughes, David Ryan, Noel McGee. Subs: Tommy Barrett, Robbie Murray, Mark Sherlock.

August 13th 1986
Waterford United 1 Arsenal 1
The Gunners misfired on their visit to Kilcohan Park in 1986 as Waterford were worth their draw at the very least in this preseason friendly. Alfie Hale’s Blues attacked throughout and were resolute at the back with David Flavin only forced into one good save. Lukic made two early saves from Mick Bennett and the goalkeeper had to foul Jimmy Donnelly outside the box when he broke through on goal. However, George Graham’s men took the lead on the half hour when Allinson powered in a close-range header from a pinpoint Davis cross and Flavin saved another Allinson header soon afterwards. The Blues pushed hard for an equaliser and it eventually came after 70 minutes. Paul Cashin’s jinking run was brought to an abrupt halt by David O’Leary and Kieran McCabe punished Arsenal from the penalty spot. It was a morale-boosting performance by Waterford and brought over six thousand pounds into the coffers. 

Waterford United: David Flavin, Kevin Power, Noel Bollard, Noel Synnott, Duncan Burns, Kieran McCabe, Michael Bennett, Jimmy Donnelly, Brian McEvoy, Paul Cashin, Martin Reid. Subs: David Kealy, Ken O’Neill, Terry Kearns. 
Arsenal: John Lukic, Kenny Sansom, Stewart Robson, David O’Leary, Tony Adams, Paul Rocastle, Paul Davis, Ian Allinson, Dessie Gorman, Graham Rix. Sub: Martin Hayes.

 

 

August 14th 2015
Athlone Town 3 Waterford United 4
Athlone again and another hat-trick. This time it was by Daniel Pender and it was the club’s first in three years. Roddy Collins’ United raced into a three-goal lead by the hour mark only to have their advantage wiped out within fifteen minutes and it was left to Pender to settle the tie late in the day. Aaron O’Connor lobbed the keeper for the opening goal and Pender made it two on twenty minutes from a McAlavey throughball. Pender extended the lead when he reacted first to a save from a Cory Galvin shot, but Purdy, twice, and Gorman struck to level the game. When it seemed the hosts would go on to win, 18-year-old Pender smashed home from close range to seal his hat-trick and the points on 83 minutes for easily the highlight win of that season.

Athlone Town: Paddy Dunican, Aidan Friel, Stephen Dunne, Conor Dunne, Aidan Collins, Thomas Mulroney, Gavin Boyne, James O’Donnell, Philly Gorman, Daniel Purdy, Jamie O’Neill. Subs: Ian Fletcher, Cian O’Sullivan.
Waterford United: Matthew Connor, Dean Reidy, Shaun Corcoran, Colum Nugent, Shane Mackey, Ethan Boyle, Cory Galvin, Evan Galvin, Daniel Pender, Anthony McAlavey, Aaron O’Connor. Sub: Shane Dineen. 

 

August 15th 2003
Bray Wanderers 1 Waterford United 2
A dazzling run and finish from Kevin O’Brien sent Jimmy McGeough’s Blues through to the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup. Waterford were lucky to still be in the game by the break as intense Bray pressure had only yielded one goal – a stunning strike by Robbie McGuinness. Midway through the second half, Wanderers’ Ciaran Ryan sent an ill-advised backpass towards his goalkeeper. The ever-vigilant Vinny Sullivan raced in to steal possession and slot home from twelve yards. Just three minutes later, O’Brien gave United the lead when he weaved through several tackles and smashed home from a tight angle. Waterford had chances to extend their advantage, but they had done enough to progress. 

Bray Wanderers: Chris O’Connor, Colm Tresson, Wes Charles, Graham O’Hanlon, Colin James, Robbie McGuiness, Eddie Gormley, Stephen Fox, Ciaran Ryan, Eamon Zayed, John Flood. Subs: Paul Forsyth, Kieran O’Brien, Keith Long. 
Waterford United: Dan Connor, Ger McLoughlin, David Breen, Willie Byrne, Kevin Waters, Kevin O’Brien, Paul Rudden, Mark Clifford, Alan Reilly, Daryl Murphy, Vinny Sullivan. Subs: John Frost, Dave Mulcahy.

 

Gavan Holohan's 'Baby Shark' celebration in Derry.

August 16th 1970
Cork Celtic 2 Waterford 3
Most notable for being Shay Brennan’s first match in charge of Waterford, this exciting Shield opener, played at Flower Lodge, was also the Blues’ first game as reigning three-in-a-row league champions. Celtic dominated the early exchanges, but Alfie Hale headed in a Phil Buck cross for the first goal of the Brennan era on 26 minutes. 18-year-old Carl Humphries equalised on the half hour and Barry Notley gave the hosts the lead right after half-time. Al Casey cracked home the leveller from close range in the 53rd minute having been picked out by a free kick by Buck. With five minutes to go, Casey danced past four tackles and passed to Johnny Matthews. His cross was returned by John O’Neill for Casey to stoop low and head in the winner. European Cup winner Brennan, playing as a sweeper with Vinny Maguire injured, was pleased with his first outing and told the press that “I thoroughly enjoyed it and I know I have made the right choice in joining Waterford, for there are some fine footballers in the side.”

Cork Celtic: Alex Ludzic, Pat O’Mahony, Richie Brooks, Amby Fogarty, Paul O’Donovan, Denis Allen, Frank McCarthy, Charlie O’Mahony, Barry Notley, Carl Humphries, Barry McGovern. Sub: John McCarthy.
Waterford: Peter Thomas, Peter Bryan, Paul Morrissey, Jimmy McGeough, Jackie Morley, Shay Brennan, Al Casey, Alfie Hale, John O’Neill, Phil Buck, Johnny Matthews. 

August 17th 2018
Derry City 1 Waterford 2
A big win at the Brandywell seven years ago that kept Alan Reynolds’ team firmly on track to claim a European place. In a truly outstanding team performance, Bastien Hery gave a real masterclass in midfield. All the goals came in the first half with Dessie Hutchinson driving a left-footed shot past Ger Doherty before Dean Shiels seized on a clearance to equalise. Waterford went back in front on the stroke of half-time when Hery played a magnificent pass to Gavan Holohan and the Kilkennyman drove it home with his left boot. The Blues attacked relentlessly and thoroughly deserved the win, but were relieved when Ally Roy’s shot came back off the crossbar in the final minute. The travelling fans gave the team a huge ovation after one of the club’s best displays in many years.

Derry City: Ger Doherty, Dan Seaborne, Aaron McEneff, Aaron Splaine, Rory Hale, Ally Roy, Gavin Peers, Darren Cole, Dean Shiels, Kevin McHattie, Ronan Hale. Subs: Ben Fisk, Jamie McDonagh.
Waterford: Matthew Connor, Rory Feely, Kenny Browne, David Webster, Garry Comerford, Bastien Hery, Dessie Hutchinson, Sander Puri, Gavan Holohan, Izzy Akinade, Noel Hunt. Subs: Dean O’Halloran, Paul Keegan.