The Famous 6 in 8

1.  We have to start with the Lawlor Factor. Back on the 20th of April, it was announced that Matt Lawlor was coming over from Fleetwood as Interim Head Coach, with the Blues on a six-game losing streak. Five months later, on the 28th of September, it was announced that Lawlor was back in the same role, with the Blues on another six-game losing streak. Was it too much to expect him to work immediate magic a second time? Not at all, as there was a stark difference in approach by the team yesterday and they got their deserved reward with all three points. 

Players speak of there being much more structure in training and clearer instructions for their individual roles in each match while there was an obvious upturn in belief and tempo with the team looking highly-motivated from the start. Waterford have now won four consecutive games under Lawlor’s stewardship (he also won both his games as caretaker manager of Fleetwood) and eight players have started all four – McMullan, Horton, Radkowski, Burke, Olayinka, Noonan, Lonergan and Amond.

 

2.  It would be remiss not to recognise the way fortune favoured Waterford on the day, but then luck has played a part in virtually every Premier Division game this season. There is so little between most of the teams that whoever turns up with the best mindset on the day usually wins and every team has to ride their luck. It sometimes felt as if John Coleman had no luck in his time here and that a few kind breaks might have turned some of those recent 2-1 defeats into points on the board.

Storm Amy forced a two-day delay to yesterday’s game which gave Lawlor a welcome extra couple of training sessions to prepare his team, while avoiding having to play a dogged Drogheda in unfavourable conditions. The visitors, then, missed two really gilt-edged opportunities to score which drew exhalations of relief from the stands that may have matched the force of Friday’s winds. Stephen McMullan made two stunning saves and Drogheda, particularly Josh Thomas, made some poor choices. On another day, they could have racked up three or four goals, but that’s just how this extremely competitive division is each week.

 

Ronan Mansfield embraces his schoolfriend Jordan Power (Noel Browne)

 

3.  Either, or both, of the previous points – Lawlor and luck – may have been the cause, but so many players came up big on the day. McMullan made those saves, Jesse Dempsey scored his first senior goal, Trae Coyle delivered the ball to him deliciously. Tommy Lonergan, consigned to the bench for those last five league losses, did what he does by scoring his eleventh goal of the season. Dean McMenamy made his first start in five months and earned Man of the Match honours in an outstanding display. James Olayinka was back to his best and Ronan Mansfield played more like a veteran leader than a teenager. Everyone played with real belief and confidence (no easy feat after two months of losing) and showed their true ability. 

 

4.  Mansfield’s selection was just the second time a Waterford-born player has started for the Blues in thirty-three league games this season. He and Dempsey are carrying the torch for the whole academy and giving a glimmer of hope to other young players that their futures may belong at the club. They both repaid the faith in them with Mansfield a man possessed at the back and Dempsey scuffing in one of the most important goals of the season. Seán Keane, Adam Queally and Jason Healy are all involved in the first team squad while Bobby Keohan (16) and Orion Cala (15) are serious prospects who have been in matchday squads and need to be seen as valuable long-term assets. There are tremendous benefits to having a core of local players in the team – players who don’t sleep the night after a loss and are like a wasp for days after a derby defeat. Ronan and Jesse’s passion demonstrated that on Sunday.

 

Hugs all around after the final whistle

 

5.  At various stages this season, I have been told Matty Smith would be back in preseason, that he’d have to retire through injury, he’d be available after the mid-season break and he was fit, but couldn’t risk breaking down again. He had disappeared from match previews and many fans expressed annoyance at the lack of an update. He endured an awful year of frustration, but then, seemingly out of nowhere, not only did he appear on the teamsheet for the first time, but he even came on for his second Blues debut during injury time. What stood out most was his obvious popularity as teammates embraced him and everyone will be delighted for Matty on a personal level.

 

6.  The run-in is a little clearer and a lot brighter now. Waterford and Sligo Rovers both have 37 points with three games remaining. Galway United have 34, but with four fixtures left. On Friday the 17th, the Blues meet Derry at the RSC, Galway host Bohs and Sligo travel to Shelbourne. A week later, it’s St Pat’s away for Waterford while Galway are home to Drogheda and Sligo host a likely-relegated Cork City. The final week sees Galway play their game in hand – versus Rovers in Tallaght – on the Wednesday and then travel to Waterford on the Saturday, while it’s Sligo’s turn to go to Tallaght. Your guess is as good as mine, but the Blues are back in the fight.