Waterford set up play-off tie with Athlone

Keith Long’s side ended any remote chance that Treaty United had of picking up the final play-off spot.

SIGNED, SEALED....: Ryan Burke of Waterford, centre, is congratulated by team-mates. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

League of Ireland First Division 

WATERFORD FC 2 RYAN BURKE ’55, DEAN MCMENAMY ‘90+6 TREATY UNITED 0 

Waterford FC will face Athlone Town in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division playoff after Keith Long’s side ended any remote chance that Treaty United had of picking up the final spot as goals from Ryan Burke and an injury-time finish from Dean McMenamy helping the Blues to a 2-0 win at a rain-lashed RSC.

In a scoreless first-half, the best of the limited chances fell the way of the Limerick side with Dean George going close with a header on 41 minutes when he got his head on the end of Marc Ludden’s left-wing cross, but his effort flew over the bar.

Tommy Barrett’s side should have struck the front with the final action of the first-half when Stephen Christopher got space for himself down the left-side before crossing into the centre for Conor Barry, but he fired left-footed over the bar from 12 yards.

The home side were celebrating the lead goal on 55 minutes when Barry Baggley whipped over a super right-wing corner that saw the ball fall to Ryan Burke at the back post, and he swept a left-footed shot past Corey Chambers with the help of the inside of the near post.

Waterford put the tie to bed deep into second-half injury-time when Shane Griffin sent Roland Idowu into the clear down the left-side, and after he took the ball past the advancing Corey Chambers before squaring to Dean McMenamy, who finished from close-range.

Waterford FC will be away to Athlone Town in the first leg of the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division playoff on Tuesday, October 24, with the second-leg confirmed for the RSC on Saturday next, October 28, with a 3pm kick-off.

WATERFORD FC: Sam Sargeant, Darragh Power, Giles Phillips (Sam Perry ’76), Derik Osede, Ryan Burke, Barry Baggley (Shane Griffin ’60), Rowan McDonald (Niall O’Keeffe ’60), Roland Idowu, Romeo Akachukwu (Dean McMenamy ’60), Connor Parsons, Ronan Coughlan (Cameron Cresswell ’68).

TREATY UNITED: Corey Chambers, Ben O’Riordan, Marc Ludden, Lee Devitt (Adam Lennon ’73), Conor Barry, Success Edogun (Enda Curran ’73), Dean George, Stephen Christopher (Willie Armshaw ’73), Colin Conroy, Mark Walsh, Robbie Lynch (Dean O’Shea ’80).

Referee: Chris Sheehan (Cork).