St Patrick's Ath 0 Waterford United 2:FIRST DIVISION side Waterford United are 90 minutes away from their second cup final of the season as the pressure on Jeff Kenna's tenure as manager of St Patrick's continues to mount.
With the League Cup final against Bohemians to look forward to already, goals from Alan Carey and Willie John Kiely saw Stephen Henderson’s promotion chasers outplay the home side last night. So much so, in fact, that St Patrick’s fans’ patience with Kenna was finally broken as chants of “We want Kenna out” rang round Richmond Park for the first time.
But the night belonged to Waterford who never lacked in confidence. Henderson, with two changes in his side from Saturday’s 1-1 draw, again played three up front as they took the game to St Patrick’s Athletic early on and almost punished an error on seven minutes.
The normally reliable Jason Gavin failed to control Dave Warren’s ball over the top and Kiely was in on goal. The hurried, first-time shot flew wide of a post.
A set-piece was needed to settle St Patrick’s and bring their first threat on 15 minutes when Waterford captain Michael Devine had to dive full stretch to turn Alan Cawley’s free-kick round a post.
But Waterford continued to get forward and deservedly took the lead on 25 minutes.
John Kearney linked with Vinny Sullivan on the stand side to lay the ball back to full back Carey who scored with an audacious shot that arced away from the right hand of Gary Rogers and into the net.
Waterford remained much the better side and Graham Cummins got through on to a long ball that exposed the home defence again, but Rogers did enough to force the striker to shoot wide, though there were appeals for a corner.
Sullivan then found a gap on the touchline to rifle in a shot that took a deflection, necessitating a good reaction save from Rogers.
A dreadful St Patrick’s posed a threat only from set-pieces, though they might have been level from one on 36 minutes. Cawley curled a terrific effort over the wall, but Devine got across in time.
Three minutes later Waterford doubled their lead. Kiely fed Cummins down the right and he cut past Gavin to unleash a powerful drive that Rogers could merely parry. Kiely followed up to tap the loose ball home.
St Patrick’s, not surprisingly, left the pitch to loud boos at the interval, and Glen Fitzpatrick screwing wide of an open goal from Gary Dempsey’s quick free within seven minutes of the restart only increased the home fans’ ire.
Incredibly, that was the only chance St Patrick’s created in the second half as Waterford recorded a deserved victory to heap the pressure on Kenna.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Lynch, Gavin, Byrne, Stevens; B Ryan, Dempsey, Cawley (Harris, half-time; Maher, 64 mins), D Ryan; Guy, Fitzpatrick (Leech, 62 mins)
WATERFORD UNITED: Devine; A Carey, Murray, Browne, Long; Warren (Waters, 82 mins); Grant, Kearney; Sullivan, Cummins, Kiely (Mulcahy, 80 mins).
Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).
