Tuesday Blue

Dean McMenamy is this week’s Tuesday Blue to mark his 100th game for the club. Our longest-serving first team player has seen a lot in his three years here, but is still two weeks shy of turning 24.

Deano joined Waterford on the 21st of December 2022 as manager Danny Searle prepared for a second season in the First Division. He made his debut in the 3-0 away win in Wexford in February 2023, starting in a midfield trio with Roland Idowu and Barry Baggley while Wassim Aouachria scored a hat-trick.

He finished that season winning the promotion playoff against Cork City in Tallaght Stadium when he was a 69th minute substitute for Romeo Akachukwu and brought energy to the team through extra-time. Fans could see how much it meant to him to win promotion with Waterford by his celebrations at the final whistle and he has always played with pride in the blue jersey.

A very popular figure at the RSC, Deano has played under Searle, Keith Long, Matt Lawlor, John Coleman and Jon Daly in his time at the club. His one hundred senior games have tallied 61 in the Premier Division, 5 in playoffs, 24 First Division, 5 in the FAI Cup and another 5 in the Munster Senior Cup.

His 100th appearance came as a half-time substitute for Sam Glenfield on Friday night and he made a significant impact in the second half. He also has another 44 senior appearances between Shamrock Rovers, Shamrock Rovers II and Longford Town, where he spent the 2022 season on loan.

Soon to be a Dad for the first time, the 23-year-old already feels like a veteran part of the team and might even be picking up a Waterford accent by now. Hopefully we’ll see plenty more of him in the coming years.