League Report: Waterford United 3 - 1 Cabinteely FC

The Roddy Collins era got off to a winning start as Waterford United picked up their first three points at home all season with a 3-1 defeat of Cabinteely at the RSC on Friday night.

Two goals in three first-half minutes from Willie John Kiely and Shane Dineen appeared to put the Blues in control, until Victor Ekanem’s header just before half-time threatened a Cabo comeback. Kiely struck again however in the dying minutes to secure a dream start for his new boss. 

Waterford began brightly, as many expected they would, fueled by the new manager buzz. Their enthusiasm failed to translate into meaningful chances however, and Cabinteely slowly established a foothold in the game. The visitors were happy to sit deep and look to spring counter attacks, using their wide men as effective outlets. 

The game was pretty devoid of incident prior to the opening goal, which arrived quite unexpectedly in the 31^st minute.

Jack Doherty pulled wide on the left to receive the ball, before working just enough space to clip a near-post cross onto the head of Kiely, who duly nodded home. It was just what Collins would have hoped for on his home bow, and three minutes later a second arrived. 

Doherty was again the provider, angling a free-kick from just past halfway on the right touchline to the near post once more, and this time Shane Dineen was on hand to convert. The home support was ecstatic, and surely thought it a knockout blow for Collins' team.

 

To their credit, however, Cabo did not shrink in the face of that double salvo. They continued to play and were rewarded just before the break when Shane O’Neill’s corner was headed home by Ekanem, after he was allowed far too much space in the Waterford box. 

The visitors failed to build on that goal, and the second forty-five proved even less eventful than the first. Waterford knocked the ball around with relative ease as Cabinteely dropped deeper and deeper, until they ceased to carry any attacking threat at all.

Ethan Boyle stood out in the Blues’ midfield, the teenager displaying a composure which belied his tender years. From the platform he provided, the home side controlled the contest. 

The final confirmation of the win came with six minutes left from Waterford’s captain; Kiely once again heading beyond Evan Whelan, this time from substitute Mark Walsh’s delivery.

Collins said after the game that relief was his main feeling upon hearing the final whistle, but for the fans who remained in the ground long after it felt much more like belief. 

Waterford United:  Matthew Connor; Dean Reidy, Patrick Fitzgerald, Shane Dineen, Shaun Corcoran; Bobbi Donoghue (Mark Walsh 81), Ross Fitzpatrick, Ethan Boyle, Jack Doherty (Sean Hurley 59); Glenn Hawe, Willie John Kiely. 
Subs not used: Robert Birdsall, Mikie Rowe, Thomas Croke, Shane Mackey, Cormac Breslin.

Cabinteely: Evan Whelan; Daniel Campbell, Victor Ekanem, Robert Maloney, Kevin Knight; Shane O’Neill, Aaron Brilly, John McKeown, Evan Finnegan (Jamie McGlynn 45); Ger Pender (Bubinel Mazono 87), Stephen Hanley. 
Subs not used: Gavin Fahy, Jamie Broderick, Ross Broderick, Sean Hyland. 

Attendance: 585

Referee: Ben Connolly (Dublin) 

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Willie John Kiely (Waterford United)