05-05-2025
Waterford's upturn continues with victory at Shelbourne
Waterford picked up their third successive league win as they edged champions Shelbourne at Tolka Park to continue their post-Keith Long renaissance.
This will go down as a textbook away performance from the Blues who held firm after Pádraig Amond's header in the third minute was fumbled over the line by Shels keeper Conor Kearns.
Waterford relied on two outstanding saves from Stephen McMullan in the first half before lady luck shone on them as Mipo Odubeko and John Martin missed chances in the last minute to leave the hosts without a shot on target in the second half.
The Blues, with new boss John Coleman in attendance, are now six points clear of Cork City in the relegation play-off spot and one point behind Shels who are without a win in their last five games of this stuttering title defence.
The Blues lead in Tolka!🔵
Pádraig Amond with the opening goal for the visitors.
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) May 5, 2025
Damien Duff has bemoaned his side's concession of sloppy goals this season and it happened again when Kearns fumbled Amond's header over the line to continue his tough spell between the sticks.
Lonergan and Amond spurned half chances to double the visitors lead but it was a first half dominated by Shels.
Ellis Chapman brought a fine save from McMullan after his dipping effort from distance was finger tipped wide before Odubeko scuffed a glorious chance wide.
Shels had a couple of chances just after the half hour mark as Odubeko and Chapman set up Wood who had efforts blocked and tipped wide by McMullan.
Duff wasn't happy with what he saw and hooked JJ Lunney and Chapman for Martin and Ali Coote.
Coote found Martin free in the six yard area but his header was magnificently scooped off the goalline by McMullan in the fourth minute of added time.
Waterford will wonder how they didn't put the game to bed ten minutes into the second half. A brilliant driving run by Ryan Burke set up Amond who was denied by Mark Coyle's goal saving block. Amond recycled to Olujimi Olayinka at point blank range but his effort somehow hit the bar.
Shels huffed and puffed but even the cries of 'shoot' from the children in the main stand fell on deaf ears.
Darragh Leahy and Kacper Radkowski met every cross with aplomb until Martin headed over from close range in the 76th minute.
A sensational corner late on from Kerr McInroy flashed across the box without a touch from a red shirt and Waterford breathed a sigh of relief when Coyle blasted wildly over the bar from outside the area.
This was not Shelbourne's day and a collective groan rang around Tolka when Odubeko headed onto the bar before Martin's bicycle kick rebound flew wide from close range in the 96th minute.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns, Sean Gannon (Bone 60), Kameron Ledwidge (Kelly 73), Ellis Chapman (Coote 33), JJ Lunney (Martin 33), Harry Wood, Mark Coyle, Mipo Odubeko, James Norris (Wilson 46), Kerr McInroy, Evan Caffrey
