Teen debutant fires Waterford to Munster Cup glory over Kerry
Connor Evans and Calum Costello’s first goals for their club fired a youthful Waterford side to a 16th Munster Senior Cup title and first since 2013.
On his full senior debut, it was 18-year-old Costello who took the plaudits, firing home from 30 yards for a 79th-minute winner and picking up the man-of-the-match award to boot.
That dipping strike denied Kerry the glory of a first trophy 16 months since fulfilling their inaugural fixture, with Blues captain Ryan Burke receiving the historic cup instead.
The team selections encapsulated the disparate significance of this fixture to both sides. The Kingdom opted for a full-strength line-up befitting their first senior final and were backed by a larger and louder travelling support at Turner’s Cross.
Waterford made 11 changes and were managed for the night by U20 head coach Seán Geoghegan. Only their more established squad players had jerseys with their surnames printed on the back. Costello and the other newcomers were challenged to make a name for themselves.
Despite the wholesale changes, they were more settled and cohesive from the off.
Gbemi Arubi was a menace down the right until being forced off at half-time. His first shot was blocked away for a corner and from Burke’s ricocheting delivery, the winger swung a bicycle kick off the crossbar. His next charge provided an inviting cross which Evans couldn’t connect with cleanly.
Kacper Skwierczynski was the first player to draw a save from Aaron O’Sullivan. Then, Andrew Spain recovered to stop Costello after his initial clearance was blocked. All that inside a dozen minutes.
In the subsequent half-hour, Kerry restricted Waterford to a couple of near misses from outside the box by Burke and Skwierczynski while Seán McGrath’s touch let him down from their best attack.
When the breakthrough arrived, it was through a defensive error under a route-one punt.
Burke reclaimed possession by his own corner flag, Ronan Mansfield booted it long, and Ethan Kos’s fluffed backpass gave Evans a clear run on goal. The Welsh striker coolly slotted under O’Sullivan for his first goal since signing from Crewe in February.
Within a minute of the restart, Waterford forged another one-on-one opportunity. Impressive holding midfielder Basit Ishola slipped in Skwierczynski but O’Sullivan advanced smartly to save.
It took Kerry 51 minutes to hit the target but they did so twice in 30 seconds to earn a leveller. A header from half-time substitute Kennedy Amechi was dealt with before they returned with fine interplay between Ronan Teahan and Nathan Gleeson. The latter fizzed the ball across for Ryan Kelliher to bundle home his 20th goal for the club.
There were chances at either end. O’Sullivan was quick off his line to deny Anthony Adenopo before Kelliher agonisingly failed to connect with a Kevin Williams cross.
The winner originated from a second Mansfield assist from inside his own half. A goal never looked on when Costello received the ball. He slalomed into space and unleashed a shot which dipped inside the near post.
Ishola and Burke came close to a clincher, while Cian Brosnan’s flashed effort across goal was as near as Kerry came to a leveller.
M Connor; J Forde, A Queally, R Mansfield, R Burke; M Carroll, B Ishola; G Arubi (A Adenopo h-t), C Costello (D Warren 90), K Skwierczynski (C Flynn 85); C Evans (Z O’Sullivan 78).
A O’Sullivan; K Williams, A Spain, E Kos, S O’Connell; R Teahan (C Brosnan 84), D McCarthy, S McGrath (V Udeze 90); D Okwute (K Amechi h-t), R Kelliher, N Gleeson.
Referee: E O’Shea.
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