By Neil Madigan
The Blues were back in action at the RSC in the Grandons Toyota Munster Senior Cup, hosting Treaty United in the quarter-final of this years competition. Keith Long’s progressed to this stage following a 1-0 win against Cork outfit Bandon AFC, which saw many of our academy players impress on home soil. Tonight’s game saw the introduction of some of the club’s new signings ahead of the 2025 season, as well as the return of some familiar faces.
The opening moments saw some cagey exchanges between the two sides, but it was the Blues who created the first real chance just before the 5 minute mark through Andy Boyle, who saw his close range header from a corner sail over the bar. Soon after, it was similar faith for Maarten Pouwels who couldn’t take advantage of a beautiful delivery from Ryan Burke.
The Blues continued to try to get a foothold of the game, but Treaty remained competitive as half-way through the first half, they saw a Lee Devitt shot on target safely into the hands of Stephen McMullan. Moments later, the Treaty threat became greater as Yousef Mahdy was slipped in behind to breach the Waterford back-three, but was ultimately unable to beat McMullen with a weak effort. As the half drew to a close, Amond sparked some life back into the Blues attack as he found his first time effort brilliantly parried away at the near post by Treaty keeper Corey Chambers.
As the second half began, Keith Long’s men immediately looked to get on the front foot. On the 51 minute mark, the persistence prevailed with a touch of luck for the Blues, as from the first corner of the second half, Conan Noonan found his excellent in swinging corner loop over the keeper’s head and into the back of the net.
This opener allowed Waterford to gain more momentum as Maarten Pouwels found his strike on the edge of the box fly past Chambers and rattle off the post; this was then beautifully followed up by fantastic flick from Pádraig Amond which clipped the crossbar.
Just after the hour mark, Amond was in the thick of it once again as he found his deflected effort trickle into the goal, only for Maarten’s attempt to securely knock it in from an offside position seen it ruled out for offside.
It wasn’t long before the Blue’s doubled their lead from yet again a brilliantly executed set piece from Conan Noonan, who found the head of Ryan Burke, who himself found the far corner.
This triggered a response from Treaty United, who found themselves back in the game through a well taken finish from substitute Dean Owens.
Just as Treaty began to press for an equaliser, they were dealt two successive blows in a matter of minutes as Blues talisman Pádraig Amond was at the end of a poacher’s finish which was then followed by another well taken goal for a new signing through Andy Boyle.
As the game came to a close, Dean Owens found himself amongst the goals once again for Treaty which would ultimately prove no more than a consolation.
With the game finishing 4-2, the Blues will happily gain some minutes in the legs while also advancing into the semi final of the Grandons Toyota Munster Senior Cup, where we will face the winners of Rockmount AFC/Mayfield United AFC away from home. The focus now shifts towards next week’s league opener at the Showground’s against Sligo Rovers.
Waterford FC: McMullan, Bakboord, Burke, Boyle, McDonald, McCormack (Glenfield ’71), Amond, Pouwels (Lonergan ’65), Radkowski, Noonan, Leahy (C) (O’Brien ’88).
Treaty United FC: Chambers; Devitt, Lynch, Conroy (Dolia ’71), Mahdy (Owens ’71), Tarmey (Ptacek ‘71), O’Connor, Lynch (Lawlor ’71), Doherty (Healy ’71), Boevi, Walsh (C).
