Tuesday Blue

Tommy Lonergan pictured below in Zagreb today against Qatar’s U23 side. The Waterford FC striker played 68 minutes in a 0-0 friendly draw which Ireland dominated, but were unable to get the ball over the line in the thirty-degree Croatian heat. This was Lonergan’s sixth cap at U21 level and his second start after the European qualifier win in Kazakhstan in March and it adds to the fourteen other appearances he has made for the Republic of Ireland at Under-16s, 18s and 19s grades.

Since he’s the only one in action at the moment, Tommy has to be this week’s Tuesday Blue. Hopefully, he will soon add the league’s Player of the Month award to the much-more-coveted Tuesday Blue having scored five goals in May.

 

 

The Dunboyne man is the Premier Division’s top scorer with eight so far this season. It needs to be noted that he has only started thirteen out of Waterford’s nineteen games with a further four substitute appearances. Having reclaimed his place in the team, Tommy has scored five goals in the six games since Jon Daly’s departure.

Those five goals in May included the fastest goal ever scored in Blues history (14.6 seconds in Drogheda) as well as the crucial penalty - also against Drogheda - that gave us our first win of the season. The pressure in that moment was intense and his celebrations showed all the joy, relief and excitement of that night. There was also a neat flick to start a comeback from two down against Dundalk, a stabbed finish to equalise against Drogheda at the RSC, and another crucial penalty against Derry City. 

 

 

He has been a key figure in Graham Coughlan’s plans so far and that’s a real indication of how the 22-year-old has developed. He’s a lot stronger physically than his teenage self and has added noticeable muscle mass. At roughly six feet tall, he’s not a stereotypical target man for long balls forward, but Lonergan has had tremendous success winning aerial duels. He is currently ranked sixth in the division for duels won with 112 and it’s striking that the five above him are all defenders - including the 6’6” Patrick Hickey.

Tommy has become much more of a powerhouse up front and when you add that to finishing ability, above-average pace and his youthfulness, it’s glaringly obvious that he will be a target for clubs in the transfer window in July and/or at the end of the season.

Whether that’s interest from abroad for a second shot in the UK after his time at Fleetwood or from Irish clubs screaming out for a goalscorer ahead of their European summer and league run-in, there can be little doubt that eyes are on the young striker and phone calls will be made. For the Blues to  keep survival hopes alive and build for the future, we need to be sure there are many more Tuesdays for Tommy in Waterford. 

 

Main photo - Ken Sutton