Garvan brace eases Keane’s Tractor Boys past Waterford

TWO GOALS from Dubliner Owen Garvan helped Roy Keane’s Ipswich Town to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Waterford United in an entertaining friendly before a crowd of 3,500 at the sun-splashed RSC last night.

Cork-born Damien Delaney – Ipswich’s new signing from QPR who made his debut against Finn Harps ten days ago – was rested for this one but the starting line-up did include Irish internationals Alex Bruce and Alan Quinn, U21 cap Garvan and the eligible but as yet uncapped David Norris.

And there was also a senior debut, at left-back, for Shane O’Connor, the former Liverpool Academy boy from Cork, whose brace in a recent friendly for the Ipswich reserves earned him a place in Keane’s squad for this Irish trip.

Waterford, playing five across the middle, were quick to get bodies up in support of lone frontman David Grincell and, barely five minutes in, came close to taking the lead when debut boy Paul Walsh, recently signed from Limerick, sent a firm back post header just over the top after a pinpoint cross from Kevin Waters on the left.

But while increasing Ipswich pressure resulted in a succession of corners floated in by Garvan, the Waterford defence held firm, leaving former Cork City netminder Mick Devine with little to concern him in the opening half hour.

However, the home side did have to rely on the linesman’s flag just past the 30 minute mark when Jordan Rhodes fastened on to a ball over the top but, having lobbed the advancing ‘keeper, had his goal ruled out for offside.

But there was to be no reprieve for the Blues, as eight minutes before the break Rhodes this time turned provider, teeing up Kevin Lisbie for a shot from 25 yards whose sheer power left Devine helpless.

Then, just two minutes after the restart, it got worse for a Waterford side which had made five changes at the break, when a deep cross from Ipswich sub Tommy Smith was not adequately dealt with by the home defence, and Garvan had the simple enough task of poking the ball to the net from close range.

And the highly-rated Garvan made it three in the 63rd minute with a goal of some quality, intercepting a poor Paul McCarthy pass before slicing through the heart of the Waterford defence and finishing with a precise left-footed shot to the far corner of the net. To their credit, the home side never flagged and, had they been a tad more clinical with the final ball, might have given the home supporters something to cheer about.

As it was, this was a satisfactory night for Roy Keane who now heads back to his hometown for tomorrow’s game against Cork City, while Stephen Henderson and Waterford return their attention to the serious business of a promotion challenge with a trip to Monaghan United.

WATERFORD UNITED: Devine (Burns 64), A Carey (Long 45), Browne, Murray (McCarthy 45), Kearney, Walsh (Dunphy 64), Grant (Mulcahy 45), Fitzgerald, Warren (P Carey 75), Waters (Cummins 45), Grincell (Kiely 45)

IPSWICH TOWN: Wright, Bruce, McAuley, Balkenstein, O’Connor (Smith 45), Quinn, Shumulikoski,Garvan, Norris (Trotter 45), Lisbie (Stead 64), Rhodes (Wickham 64)

Referee: Keith Callanan (Cork).