Waterford United 3 - 1 Mervue United

A Sean Maguire-inspired Waterford United overcame a limp Mervue United by three goals to one at the RSC on Friday night. Maguire, Paul Phelan and Peter Keegan had put the Blues 3-0 up before Alan Murphy scored a late consolation. 

Waterford got off to the best possible start, as they took the lead after just two minutes. Paul Phelan escaped down the left wing before cutting a cross back to the six-yard box where Sean Maguire was lurking. Despite the ball being just behind him, the 18-year-old forward trapped the ball expertly before spinning and tucking the ball inside Ronan Forde’s near post in one fluid movement. The Blues wonderkid has been the subject of much interest from Britain this season, and the hype is most certainly justified in this case. Maguire has been a revelation for the Suirsiders this season and has evolved into their most dynamic creative force. 

Despite this early set-back, Mervue did not wilt. The visitors were the better side in the opening exchanges and pushed the Waterford back-line deeper and deeper. Despite this pressure, they lacked the cutting edge to open up their opponents and too often ran out of option or ideas in the final third. In the 17^th minute, Mervue finally carved out a decent goal scoring chance. Alan Murphy sent over a corner from the left and Pat Hoban rose well but could only direct his weak header straight at Holden. 

The next opening arrived for the home side, and once again Maguire was heavily involved. On 28 minutes, the youngster dropped deep to find space in front of the Mervue defence and clipped a nicely-weighted ball in behind for Phelan to race on to. The winger’s effort was well-struck but skipped just wide of Forde’s far post from a tight angle. 

Three minutes later, the duo combined once more – but to more decisive effect. Mervue once more afforded Maguire too much time and space and he once more found Phelan; this time the ball found the inside of the net at the far post and doubled Waterford’s advantage. 
 

With the first-half drawing quietly to a close, there was just enough time for both sides to create once decent chance each. First Barry McEntee drew the best out of Holden with a 25-yard drive which the Blues stopper did very well to turn over the bar, and then Forde saved well at close range from Maguire’s hooked effort before last-ditch defending denied Peter Keegan’s follow up. 

The second 45 began in much the same manner as the first - with Mervue conceding inside three minutes. Peter White’s searching pass over the top required Forde to race from his goal and beat Maguire to the ball. The ‘keeper could only find Peter Keegan with his clearance however and the Blues striker had plenty of time to clip the ball over the stranded stopper and register his first goal for the club. 

With Waterford three goals up and cruising, they began to allow their visitors back into the game through complacency. On 56 minutes, Alan Murphy drew a reaction save from Holden after his low free-kick from the left came through a crowd of bodies. Ten minutes later, Mervue had a much better opening but still couldn’t find the net. Marc Ludden overlapped down the left flank before crossing to the penalty spot where Jason Molloy was all alone but fluffed his lines and saw his attempted finish sail harmlessly over. 

The consolation goal did eventually come for the visitors though, and it arrived after 71 minutes. Alan Murphy had looked by far the most likely Mervue player to net and he did so through a deflected effort which bobbled past Holden from 10 yards for his side’s first ever goal at the RSC.
 

Any hope of a Mervue comeback was short-lived however, as Waterford were stirred from their temporary slumber and for the rest of the game seemed the more likely of the two teams to score again. Maguire had a penalty appeal turned down before firing straight at Forde at the near post for the hosts. The game ended in a processional manner and, in the end, the home side were full value for the three points thanks to a much more clinical final-third performance. 


Waterford United: Packie Holden; Craig Burns, Seamus Long, David Breen, Dylan Mernagh; Ben Ryan, Gary Dempsey, Peter White, Paul Phelan; Sean Maguire (Conor Coad 88), Peter Keegan (Gary Keane 84). 
Subs not used: Paul Carey, Jamie Cross, Gary Dunphy, Peter Higgins, Robbie Huges. 

 

Mervue United: Ronan Forde; Michael McSweeney (Barry McEntee 8), James Casserley, Mike Elwood (Stephen Walsh 37), Marc Ludden; Jason Molloy, Noel Varley, Gary Kelly (Tom King 87), Etanda Nkololo; Pat Hoban, Alan Murphy. 
Subs not used: Shane Keogh, Alex Lee, Conor O’ Malley. 

 

Referee: Sean Grant.
Attendance: 282
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Sean Maguire.