Blues defeat knocks Saints off the top
Saturday 7th July 2007, 12:50 am
Vinny Sullivan headed in the Waterford winner.
Photo by Tom Carey.
6th July 2007
eircom League of Ireland Premier Division
Waterford United 2
Paul McCarthy 42
Vinny Sullivan 65
St. Patrick's Athletic 1
David Mulcahy 63
R.S.C.
Saint Patrick's Atheltic relinquished the League of Ireland lead on Friday night as they lost to second from bottom Waterford United at the Waterford RSC. Crucially now the Saints have played one game more than new leaders Drogheda.
Saints boss John McDonnell again made unforced changes as he handed Dave Rogers a debut in defence. Willie John Kiely got his first start for Waterford since rejoining recently.
Waterford did well to keep the league leaders at bay in the early going. Mark Quigley, the top league goal-scorer in the top flight, fired over when Keith Fahey had played him in. There were a couple of other scares before Waterford snatched the lead three minutes before the break.
Daryl Kavanagh's floated free-kick unsettled the visiting defence and Paul McCarthy powered home the lead goal from close range.
Pushing for a leveller after the break, Pats eventually equalised on 63 minutes when Dave Mulcahy fired home after pouncing on a defensive error.
However, a more resilient Blues side regained their lead on 65 minutes when Vinny Sullivan glanced home a header from Kiely's cross.
The Saints couldn't equalise for a second time and have now failed to win in their last five away games in the league - losing three of them. Waterford extended their lead over last placed Longford and increased their chances of climbing away from the play-off although this win was not enough to do that just yet.
Waterford United : Delaney, Flynn, Hedderman, Browne, Breen, Warren, Kiely (Brosnan 79), McCarthy (Hayes 90+), Sullivan, Kavanagh, Scully (Lordan 84).
St. Patrick's Athletic : Ryan, Brennan, Paisley, Maguire, Rogers, Mulcahy, Kirby (Keane 60), Fahey, Murphy, Cornwall (O'Connor 50), M Quigley.