A tight tussle between Kerry’s Jim Sheehy and Waterford’s Kenny Purcell. Photo: Jim O’Sullivan
Waterford League 4; Kerry League 0
The rain fell and the wind blew on Sunday afternoon but it made no difference to the Waterford League as they quite simply blew Kerry away without any great deal of difficulty. Having opened up their campaign with a home win against Clare they knew that a win in this game would get them through to the knock out stage of the competition and now they can travel to Cork in January for the last group game without any worries whatsoever. They will of course try and get a positive result from that contest and top the group and no doubt the team manager Anthony Brown and his assistants, Jim Whelan and Paddy Ryan will insure that the team record a victory on the banks of the Lee. Just as they did in the game against Clare, Waterford turned on the style and if they continue to play their excellent brand of football it is possible that they are more than capable of going all the way this season.
One way traffic
It was clear from the outset that the Waterford team were fired up for the game and after only two minutes Sam Shanahan was put in the clear by Eddie Barrett but the Tramore player shot into the side netting with only the visiting goalkeeper to beat. The home outfit did however take the lead on 15 minutes. Sam Shanahan swung over a corner kick from the right. The ball was headed clear by the Kerry defender Daniel Clinton but when it fell to Paul Carey, the Southend United player hammered the ball to the roof of the net from eight yards. The pressure continured to mount on the Kerry goal and again Sam Shanahan was involved in the action. This time he played the ball through to Kenny Purcell but the Bohemians striker shot high over the crossbar. Three minutes later Kenny Purcell was quick to get on to a pass from Gavin Faulkner and this time he lobbed the ball over the crossbar. Paul Carey played in Gavin Faulkner on 32 minutes but with only the Kerry goalkeeper to beat the Tramore player shot straight at the netminder from a decent position. It was only a matter of time before the second goal arrived and it did come five minutes before the half time break. Sam Shanahan got a little bit of space out on the left and when he looked up and saw Gavin Faulkner making a move to the near post he played the ball to Faulkner who touched the ball to the net with style from close range.
More goals
Anthony Brown brought on Gary Keane for the hard working Sam Shanahan for the second half and the Bohemians player was to play a vital role in all that occurred after the interval. On 48 minutes he was put clear by Kenny Purcell but he shot straight at the Kerry goalkeeper Robert Bindscott from a great position. Shortly afterwards Kenny Purcell crossed from the right to the far post but this time Gary Keane just failed to get on to the end of Purcell’s cross. Gary Keane did however play a major role in Waterford’s third goal which arrived on 78 minutes. He displayed delightful pace and skill to to get the ball over from the left and Aaron Butler charging forward rammed the ball into the Kerry net from six yards. The only chance created by Kerry came on 85 minutes. Defender Daniel Clinton raced forward to beat the offside trap but he shot straight at the Waterford goalkeeper Kevin Burns. Waterford put the icing on the cake three minutes from full time with a classic goal. Mitchell Casey charged through the Kerry defence before releasing the ball to Aaron Butler who in turn passed to Gary Keane and he drilled the ball under the body of the visiting goalkeeper from just inside the penalty area. A ver pleasing performance indeed then by this talented Waterford team.
Waterford League: Kevin Burns, Brian Nolan, Colin O’Shea, Thomas Moore, Mitchell Casey, Paul Carey, Aaron Butler, Eddie Barrett, Kenny Purcell, Gavin Faulkner, Sam Shanahan.
Subs: Gary Keane for Shanahan (H-T) David Kennedy for Faulkner (71 mins)
Kerry League: Robert Bindscott, Peter McCarthy, Kevin McCarthy, Jamie McIntyre, Donal Murphy, Daniel Clinton, Joe Shiely, Fran Murphy, Leon Foley, Wayne Conway, Donnacha Higgins.
Subs: Stephen Barlett for Pter McCarthy (60 mins) Daniel Coffey for Higgins (75 mins)
Referee: Tony Walsh.
