Preview: Waterford Utd vs Sporting Fingal

• Keith Wallace
• Fri, Mar 28 2008




Two of the ante-post favourites for promotion to the Premier Division face-off at the RSC tonight as Waterford United host Sporting Fingal (kick-off 7.45pm). For both sides, it is a crucial game as the pair look to close the gap on pacesetters Dundalk, who opened up a four point lead at the summit with victory over Wexford Youths on Thursday evening.

After capitulating on their first ever night in League of Ireland football, Fingal have responded extremely well with home wins over Athlone Town and Limerick 37 in the past fortnight. Both those victories also came with clean-sheets, something which was very much welcomed by boss Liam Buckley after he had seen his side concede five goals in Longford on the opening day.

He knows, however, that Waterford will Sporting’s most difficult test to date. “Waterford will be strong and I expect them to be there or thereabouts at the top of the division throughout the campaign,” said Buckley. “From our perspective, I’m pleased that things are starting to take shape. Two league wins in a row has given everyone a boost and I feel that this new team is getting there - slowly but surely.”

Despite being the only unbeaten team in the division along with Dundalk, Waterford currently sit a point behind Fingal in the standings. The Blues haven’t won since beating Wexford on the opening evening, as they’ve been held to draws by both Longford and Athlone.

Speaking on that latest result in Lissywoollen, manager Gareth Cronin said: “The conditions were awful; the wind was shocking and it made a bit of a lottery of the game. I’m still disappointed because we had a enough to win the match. We should have scored from a free-kick in the second-half - Luke Fitzpatrick had a very good, headed opportunity, but we are not creating enough at the moment. That said, we stay unbeaten and a clean sheet is very pleasing.”

Before he stressed the importance of this meeting: “The next two weeks are very important with two home games in a row and if we can win these two homes games it’s an excellent start – we just have to keep going. We look very solid defensively and that’s always the very first aim for any manager so we just need to just build on that.”

Team News: Sporting Fingal will be without striker Robbie Doyle through suspension, while defender Philip Byrne is nursing a calf strain and his prospects of being available are rated as 50/50 by Buckley. Stephen Caffrey is also doubtful, having been substituted in last Monday’s eircom League Cup game against Shelbourne due to a foot injury, and will undertake a pre-match fitness test. Hosts Waterford have no injury or suspension worries.