Waterford FC had to settle for a share of the spoils on Saturday afternoon as the Blues played out a 0-0 draw with Cork City in the RSC.
The first chance of the game fell to the Blues on six minutes when Ali Coote played a dangerous ball into visitor’s 18-yard box but he was unable to pick out the on onrushing Michael O’Connor.
The visitors were next to try to break the deadlock on 21 minutes when Kevin O’Connor watched his free kick go wide of the Waterford upright. The ex-Waterford man was unable to test Murphy from a good position.
As the first half drew to a close, Matty Smith looked certain to score, but his effort sailed high over McNulty’s crossbar after some good build-up play between Coote and Sobowale.
It was Sobowale who was involved in Waterford’s next chance just after the half-time break. The fullback played a great ball into Michael O’Connor but his effort was off target.
The Blues had appeals for a penalty turned down when Smith sent over a ball from the left that was parried by McNulty to Kurtis Byrne. His goalbound effort looked to be kept out by the hand of Kevin O’Connor, but the referee waved play on.
At the other end, Cory Galvin and Dylan McGlade were receiving the ball in pockets of space behind the Blues midfield and it was McGlade who fired a right-footed shot from distance off the crossbar, before blasting the rebound high over the Waterford crossbar.
Both sides continued to create chances in the final half-hour with Galvin shooting over the crossbar before firing a shot straight down on Murphy in the Waterford goal.
At the other end, Michael O’Connor and Sam Bone couldn’t find the net after two set-pieces – the centre-back heading Wilson’s corner straight into the arms of McNulty.
As the game drew to a close the Blues continued to push for a winner and almost claimed the three points in injury time when Wilson and Smith combined, but McNulty was alert to the danger and smothered the ball at the feet of Will Fitzgerald
Waterford FC: Brian Murphy, Tunmise Sobowale, Sam Bone, Robbie McCourt, Tyreke Wilson, Ali Coote, Robbie Weir, Shane Griffin, Matty Smith, Michael O’Connor (Will Fitzgerald 67), Kurtis Byrne
Cork City: Mark McNulty, Alan Bennett, Rob Slevin (Rory Hurley 90), Henry Ochieng, Cian Coleman, Daire O’Connor (Dylan McGlade 46), Cory Galvin (Cian Bargary 70), Kevin O’Connor, Joseph Oluwu, Cian Murphy, Uniss Kargbo
Referee: Adriano Reale
