Waterford FC saw their 13-match unbeaten run come to a heartbreaking end as champions Shamrock Rovers fought back to claim a dramatic 3-2 victory in a rain-soaked SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night.
Having twice led through Evan McLaughlin and Benny Couto, Graham Coughlan’s side looked capable of taking at least a point from South Dublin after another impressive display against the league leaders. However, substitute John McGovern emerged as the unlikely match-winner with two second-half goals, while Rovers goalkeeper Ed McGinty produced a stunning late save to deny Tommy Lonergan an equaliser.
The hosts threatened first on four minutes when Will Fitzgerald slipped a pass into Graham Burke inside the Waterford penalty area, but the winger’s curling effort drifted wide of Stephen McMullan’s far post.
Waterford gradually settled into the contest and began to look dangerous on the counter attack. Evan McLaughlin forced a comfortable save from McGinty on 20 minutes after being found by Lonergan, while at the opposite end Matthew Healy tested McMullan with a long-range effort.
The visitors were inches away from taking the lead on 25 minutes. McMullan launched a long ball forward which Padraig Amond expertly flicked into the path of Lonergan. The striker’s low drive appeared destined for the bottom corner until McGinty got down brilliantly to divert the ball around the post with one hand.
There was frustration in the Waterford camp two minutes later when Lonergan appeared to be clearly fouled as he broke into the Rovers half. Referee Aaron O’Dowd allowed play to continue and manager Graham Coughlan was subsequently shown a yellow card following his protests.
Rovers should have gone in front on 33 minutes. Adam Brennan released Aaron Greene down the right side of the area and his clever cutback picked out Jack Byrne, but the midfielder somehow hooked his effort over the crossbar from close range.
The home side continued to press and created another opening on 35 minutes when Dylan Watts released Burke behind the Waterford defence. The winger’s low effort flashed narrowly wide of the far post.
Moments later Waterford punished that miss in clinical fashion. Lonergan delivered from the right and Benny Couto showed excellent awareness to lay the ball into the path of McLaughlin. The wing-back kept his composure and drilled a low finish beyond McGinty to hand the visitors a deserved lead.
Waterford’s defence then produced a crucial moment on 38 minutes. Watts sent Greene racing through on goal and the striker looked set to equalise, only for John Mahon to make a superb recovery tackle just as the Rovers forward prepared to lift the ball over McMullan.
The Blues nearly doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time. Couto’s corner was knocked down into the path of Amond six yards out, but Pico Lopes threw himself in front of the veteran striker’s effort to make a vital block.
The game burst into life after the interval with two goals arriving inside a minute.
Rovers levelled on 57 minutes when Byrne’s corner was only partially cleared by the Waterford defence. The loose ball fell kindly for Greene, who reacted quickest to hook a finish beyond McMullan from close range.
Waterford immediately restored their lead with an excellent move. Noah Mawene drove purposefully into the penalty area before crossing for Lonergan. His controlled touch set up Couto at the edge of the area and the Portuguese midfielder guided a superb right-footed finish past McGinty to make it 2-1.
The lead lasted until the 71st minute. Jake Mulraney made an immediate impact after his introduction, surging down the left before combining with Burke. The winger delivered a perfect cross into the centre where substitute McGovern arrived unmarked to steer home from close range.
Rovers completed the comeback four minutes later. Once again Mulraney found space down the left flank and delivered another dangerous cross into the box. McGovern was quickest to react, finishing beyond McMullan to score his second goal in four minutes and put the champions ahead for the first time.
Waterford refused to surrender and almost snatched a dramatic equaliser five minutes from time. Couto’s free-kick found Hayden Cann, whose powerful header crashed against the crossbar. The rebound dropped invitingly for Lonergan inside the six-yard box, but McGinty somehow threw himself across goal to produce a remarkable save and preserve Rovers’ advantage.
It proved the decisive moment of a thrilling contest as Waterford left Tallaght empty-handed despite producing one of their most spirited displays of the season.
Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Brennan (Mulraney 67), Lopes, Grace, Cleary (C. O’Sullivan 87); Watts, Healy, Byrne, Fitzgerald (Sobowale 61); Burke (Razi 67), Greene (McGovern 61).
Waterford FC: McMullan; Cann, Long, Mahon; Voilas (Houston 77), McLaughlin (Glenfield 64), Mawene (Heeney 77), Noonan (Faria 77), Couto; Amond, Lonergan.
Attendance: 5,823.
