Valiant Wasilewski Secures Very Late Victory

First team players Arlo Doherty, Jesse Dempsey, Trae Coyle and new signing from Nigeria Goforth Amedu all started for the Waterford FC Under-20s in their 2-1 win over Galway United at SETU Arena on Saturday. The most notable action in an evenly-matched first half came when Mason Murphy thought he had scored only to see the offside flag raised. Waterford, playing with a strong breeze behind them in the second half, took the lead after 53 minutes when Murphy latched onto a ball in the six-yard box, took a touch and finished decisively. 

Eddie Nolan’s Blues appeared to be comfortable for most of the second period, but Galway struck a fortuitous equaliser with just eight minutes remaining. A dangerous cross from the right caught Amedu in two minds whether to kick or head clear and the ball glanced off his head into the net at Doherty’s near post. The Blues pushed on to find a winner and it came via a corner kick in the 94th minute when Coyle whipped in a cross which substitute Filip Wasilewski met with a brave header past Galway’s 6’5” Portuguese goalkeeper Hugo Pires da Cunha. A solid three points for Waterford in a game they just about shaded and important minutes in the legs for some first team squad members.

They weren’t the only ones to win in late, dramatic fashion at the weekend as the Blues Under-17s scored twice in the final three minutes on Sunday to earn an unlikely 2-1 victory away to Kerry. The home side opened the scoring after just seven minutes through a goal from Kieran Shane O’Donovan and led for the next eighty. Waterford kept pressing forward and, with just three minutes left on the clock, found an equaliser when Evan Lonergan finished from a Daire Cummins pass. Kerry were still reeling when Derek Hearne’s Blues hit them for a precious winning goal in the 89th minute. Julian Power set Harry Farrell up and the former Piltown AFC schoolboy struck to turn the game on its head and spark raucous celebrations.

Evan Lonergan started a late comeback for the Under-17s

Having scored two goals in two games last weekend, Rachael Duff continued her great form with another goal for the Under-17 girls on Saturday, but it wasn’t enough as the Blues fell to a 2-1 home loss to Galway United. Waterford, short-handed due to a number of absences, fell behind to a goal from Ava Gallagher after fifteen minutes. Galway doubled their advantage in the 71st minute at SETU Arena when Amira Bouhlel McNamara added a goal to her earlier assist. Duff, previously of Highview Athletic in Graiguenamanagh, pulled one back with ten minutes left to play, but the Blues were unable to conjure up an equaliser. 

Nathan Power (pictured above leading the team out) added to his hefty goal tally on Saturday, but the Waterford FC Under-15s went down to a 4-1 defeat against Dundalk in Oriel Park. Having qualified for Tier One, the U15s are meeting elite opposition each week and were outmatched in this one despite taking the lead after 20 minutes when Cruz Chong set Power up and the striker scored yet again. The hosts levelled shortly before half time through Braiden McCarney and took the lead just three minutes after the break when Kyle Woods scored. Ryan Musgrave, who had missed a penalty earlier, made it 3-1 and Massimo Ngene made it four with another penalty in the 72nd minute. 

Lastly, the Under-14s had a very successful development weekend at FAI Headquarters in Abbotstown, winning all three of their games without conceding a goal. The Blues opened up with a 1-0 triumph over Sligo Rovers courtesy of a goal from Aaron English. Next, they enjoyed a very impressive 3-0 win against Shelbourne with goals from Enoch Mich, Ryan O’Neill and Terry Renwick. They finished with another 1-0 win – this time against Finn Harps with Mich, formerly of Kilkenny club Freebooters, adding his second of the weekend. Well done to goalkeepers Noah Kelly, Jack Clarke and Shay Massey and their defenders on earning a perfect three clean sheets.