Red mist costs Cork dearly as Waterford take derby honours to go top of table
NO WAY OUT: Harvey Skieters of Cork City in action against Rowan McDonald of Waterford during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Waterford and Cork City at the Regional Sports Centre in Waterford. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Waterford’s fans were chanting “There’s Only One Team in Munster” after Keith Long’s side came from behind to beat Cork City and assume the early Premier Division lead.
City’s first defeat of the season could be a costly one as they lost Seáni Maguire to injury, as well as Freddie Anderson and manager Tim Clancy to red cards.
For the Blues, Kyle White has made a stunning return from a long-term injury to complement his goal in Derry City on Friday by prodding in the winner with four minutes left.
It was the culmination of incessant pressure, reflected by nine second-half corners, eased by the visitors playing the final half hour with 10 men.
Changing a winning formula isn’t always advisable but Clancy favours suitability over continuity, insistent selections must reflect the environment and opposition.
What he sacrificed by taking midfielders Seán Murray and Rio Shipston out of the team from Friday’s victory was compensated by the attributes brought into the mix by Kitt Nelson and Alex Nolan.
The latter has been chomping to be unleashed. Leaving St Patrick’s Athletic and Dublin represents a risk for the talented wideman but his eagerness to prove himself was hampered by a pre-season injury.
A couple of substitute cameos in the opening pair of games displayed the threat he supplies and his first start of the season was grasped with a spectacular goal after just eight minutes.
There appeared to be little danger when Darragh Crowley rolled a pass towards the corner flag for Nolan to chase. Still, he dropped his shoulder to jink past White and before Darragh Leahy could close him down, his rising shot from an acute angle found the roof of the net.
Waterford, despite recording impressive wins in the north-west at Sligo Rovers and Derry City, drew a blank in their sole home game.
That was the 1-0 reverse to Damien Duff’s title holders Shelbourne but there was sufficient endeavour in the final third, coupled with the two away wins, to believe firepower was prevalent.
Pádraig Amond finished last season, his first back in the league after 14 years abroad, as joint top scorer and that poacher’s instinct of his will tell once service is provided.
His first glimpse of goal following the concession arrived on 17 minutes when he was able to spin off his marker but the shot skewed wide. He would have better joy from a similar position later.
It was through midfield that the Blues conjured their closest chance to level, Dean McMenamy clipping the crossbar with the outside of his right foot within a moment of falling behind.
Indeed, City were the side trudging off at the break regretting a spurned chance. They weren’t long lamenting the loss of Maguire midway through the half when his replacement, Harvey Skieters, executed a sublime through ball with his first touch.
Nolan was the beneficiary, racing clear and cutting across the front of Leahy to create the angle, only to drag his right footer wide of the far post. It was a glaring miss and one the City travelling support feared might haunt them.
Also imbuing a sense of foreboding was their two centre-backs incurring bookings two minutes apart. Late challenges placed captain Charlie Lyons and Anderson on a tightrope only one of them would be unable to traverse.
The demands of three games in a week might have explained the withdrawal of the 36-year-old at half-time with a view to Friday’s visit of Bohemians but Murray also possessed the experience of dealing with conceding within 84 seconds of the restart.
Navajo Bakboord, Conan Noonan and Rowan McDonald were involved in neat build-up that led to a cross whipped into the six-yard box.
First to anticipate the delivery was the wily Amond, retreating from the goalline between the two centre-backs to swivel and tuck his low shot into the bottom corner from six yards.
Backed by their strong home support, Waterford were in the ascendancy and it took a brave block from Murray to deflect Bakboord’s half volley wide.
It got better for them when Anderson was coaxed into a foul on Lonergan just past the hour that triggered his second booking. The striker’s free-kick was heading for the top corner until Tein Troost’s hand tipped the ball into the crossbar and over.
Troost was extended again with 13 minutes left by batting away Kasper Radkowski’s 20 yarder. While he was denied his second goal on the spin, White wouldn’t be.
Troost did well to claw ahead Lonergan’s header from Amond’s cross but White nipped in ahead of substitute Josh Fitzpatrick to poke home the rebound.
S McMullan; N Bakboord, A Boyle, K Radkowski, D Leahy, K White; R McDonald, D McMenamy (M Pouwels 73), C Noonan; P Amond, T Lonergan.
T Troost; D Crowley, F Anderson, C Lyons, B Couto; G Bolger (S Murray 46), K Nelson (R Shipston 78); A Nolan (J Fitzpatrick 78), S Maguire (H Skieters 22), M Dijksteel (M Mbeng 64); R Keating.
Damien McGraith (Mayo).
3017.
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