Brace from Amond helps dominant Waterford to win over Galway United

BRACE: Padraig Amond scores a brace for Waterford to help the in dominant win over Galway Utd. Pic: ©INPHO/James Lawlor

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Galway Utd 2 (Walsh 59’, McGuinness 74’) Waterford 4 (Noonan 31’, Amond 47’, 77’ (P), Leahy 72’)

On a night of consequence at the bottom of the table, Waterford asserted their dominance. After beating Cork in the RSC, they dispatched Galway United on their own turf, putting four past a once mean defence.

The critical blow came after the restart. A routine ball over the top caused paralysis in the United defence. Pádraig Amond glided through and finished with coolness and class.

In the past, United dictated the terms against Waterford and impose their physicality. This time, Waterford went on the front foot, encouraging Conan Noonan, Amond and Tommy Lonergan forward at every chance.

The interplay of the three allowed for Noonan to fashion some space and drill home from the edge of the box in the 30th minute.

Their positivity yielded other big chances in the first. Waterford were quick and crafty on the break. Amond was played clean through at one point, but Evan Watts saved brightly. The ‘keeper had earlier spilled a cross, but the Blues couldn’t convert.

There was some drama at the Clubhouse End too as United got to grips with the game. Stephen McMullan scrambled to save an Aaron Bolger lob. There was a decent penalty shout too waved away. The ‘keeper saved a Rob Slevin header comfortably too.

A couple of substitutions at half-time indicated that all wasn’t well on the home front. David Hurley and Dara McGuinness made some impact, but it was veteran striker Stephen Walsh who hauled them back into the contest.

There was then a flurry of goals, three in six minutes. Bolger turned one into his own net after a Noonan cross. Debutant McGuiness pulled one back at the other end.

The decisive intervention came when Alan Patchell gave a debatable penalty to the visitors. Amond scored to restore order. It was little more than his side deserved and sufficient for them to see it out.

Galway United: Watts; Esua, Brouder (Buckley 67), Cunningham, Slevin, Burns; Borden (Hurley 45), McCarthy (Keohane 61), Bolger (Piesold 81); Walsh, Shaw (McGuinness

45) 

Waterford: McMullan; Horton, Boyle, Leahy, Burke, Armstrong (Dempsey 80); McDonald, Rossiter (McMenamy 80), Noonan; Amond, Lonergan 

Referee: A Patchell