By Neil Madigan
Hard-working Blues left stunned by St Pat’s, who score two late goals in a 2-1 defeat. An opener from Padraig Amond was cancelled out by an unfortunate Darragh Leahy own goal and a Brandon Kavanagh free kick.
The Blues were back in action at the RSC hosting Stephen Kenny’s inform St Pats side, who started the night sitting in second in the division. The Inchicore side were 3-0 victors in their last outing, where they overcame Bohemians. The Blues on the other hand, were looking to bounce back from their narrow 1-0 defeat to highfliers Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park.
With the Blues eager to get their early period of the season back on track, they were coming into this contest aware of the enormity of the task ahead in this resilient St Pats side.
The home side started brightly as they refused to let St Pats take the early control they desired. An early opening came for Keith Long’s side just after a couple of minutes, when a full debut for Trae Coyle nearly got off to a flier as he saw his glancing head just wide of Joseph Anang’s post.
As the Blue’s early positivity intensified, Ryan Burke was beginning to cause the visitor’s problems as he was able to break into the area eventually finding Conan Noonan, who was unlucky not to make a clean connection with his effort.
Moments later, it was Ryan Burke causing havoc down the left side yet again, as he broke into space down the left flank, floating his deep cross on to the head of talisman Padraig Amond, who saw his header from just inside the box loop over Joseph Anang giving him no chance. As ‘Amond again’ serenaded around a lively RSC, the Blue’s had a deserved lead after a quarter of an hour.
With momentum firmly on Waterford’s side following the opener, the intensity was refusing to drop. Stephen Kenny’s side continued to look for a way into the contest but with the Blue’s showing resilience across the pitch, they looked comfortably in control of proceedings as the game approached the half hour mark.
As the half drew to a close, the speed of proceedings began to fade allowing the Inchicore side to gather some of the possession they had been vying for. With the visitors efforts coming to no avail, the Blues remained resolute and were happy to hear the half time whistle.
With the second half underway, an adamant St Pats were looking to increase the pressure on the steady Waterford backline. With the Blue’s continuing to resist, they saw this as an opportunity to hurt the visitors themselves.
With five minutes played, Kacper Radkowski saw his pass split the St Pat’s defence finding Trae Coyle, who was ultimately unable to test the keeper. Moments later, the skipper Padraig Amond was unlucky not to double his tally for the night. A long ball headed down by Trae Coyle was met sweetly by a Padraig Amond volley which flew inches past the post.
With Stephen Kenny’s side alerted by the Blues threat, they created a chance of their own through a corner which was met by the head of Chris Forrester, who was unlucky to have his effort remarkably cleared off the line by Ryan Burke.
With the visitors increasingly becoming a threat, Waterford continued to dig in. Stephen McMullan was forced into some pivotal saves, with Mason Melia and Zach Elbouzedi both testing the Under 21 Northern Irish international.
As the contest neared its conclusion, the hosts continued to try and confine St Pat’s chances. Unfortunately, this was easier said than done as the visitors proved to be a threat from set pieces once again as a Brandon Kavanagh free kick found the head of Waterford’s Darragh Leahy, who was unfortunate to find his header in the back of his own net.
Thing’s got from bad to worse for the Blues, when the game was then immediately turned on its head. Brandon Kavanagh, who created the first from a set piece, found himself scoring the second from a free kick at the edge of the host’s box. As the away end erupted, the home faithful were in disbelief.
As the final whistle blew, the RSC was left stunned as Keith Long’s men looked to have produced their best performance of the season. With the game snatched at the death, it will undoubtedly be a hard one to take for the lads. The Blues must now shift their focus to their trip to Drogheda next week while taking the positives from tonight’s disappointment.
Waterford FC: Stephen McMullan, Ryan Burke, Grant Horton, Rowan McDonald (Sam Glenfield ‘69), James Olayinka, Padraig Amond, Darragh Leahy, Kacper Radkowski, Conan Noonan (Navajo Bakboord ‘77), Dean McMenamy, Trae Coyle (Tommy Lonergan ‘69).
St Patrick’s Athletic FC: Joseph Anang, Anto Breslin (Jason McClelland ‘63), Joe Redmond, Tom Grivosti, Zach Elbouzedi, Chris Forrester, Mason Melia, Brandon Kavanagh, Barry Baggley (Jamie Lennon ‘63), Jake Mulraney (Simon Power ‘63), Carl Axel Sjoberg (Conor Carty ‘82).
Attendance: 3,011.
