Under 19 League
Waterford United 2
Cabinteely 2
Matt Keane reports
Waterford United opened up their league campaign on Saturday at the RSC but had to settle for a point after squandering a two goal lead.
Jordan Andre created the first chance for Cabinteely after four minutes when he took a pass from Ross Broderick on the edge of the penalty area but his well struck shot was just over the crossbar of Blues keeper Matthew Sheehan.
Sheehan came to his sides rescue with a brilliant save less than five minutes later when a free kick from Andre saw Dylan O’Connor get free on the left side of the penalty area but his cracking effort was superbly turned around the posts by the Blues netminder.
There was a massive let off for the Blues on 14 minutes when Roy Butler conceded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area that saw Gavin Howard’s effort superbly kept out by Sheehan but Craig Canty somehow managed to fire the rebound from four yards wide of the right hand post.
The woodwork denied Cabinteely the breakthrough goal after 36 minutes when an excellent through ball from Gavin Howard set up Ross Broderick down the left side but after his shot came back off the near post, the Blues defence cleared the danger.
After a rare Blues first half attack, the lead goal arrived on the stroke of half time whistle when a fine through ball from Glenn Waters sent Dean Walsh into the clear and he kept his cool to slip a left-footed shot to the right corner past keeper Sean Hyland.
The Blues doubled their lead with the first meaningful attack of the second half on 55 minutes when Dylan McGuire got free down the left side of the area before crossing for Dean Walsh and he was in the right place to fire past keeper Sean Hyland from just outside the six-yard area
Cabinteely pulled a goal back on 62 minutes when Jordan Andre put the ball to the back of the net after a Dylan O’Connor cross from a clear offside position but the goal was allowed to stand by the officials.
A brilliant through ball from Dylan O’Connor on the right side of the area over the top saw Jordan Andre race into the clear and he held his nerve to drill a low right-footed shot past a helpless Matthew Sheehan from just inside the penalty area. That goal arrived on 77 minutes and it proved to be the final goal of a good contest.
WATERFORD UNITED: Matthew Sheehan, Dylan Walsh (Luke Doherty `87), Dylan McGuire, Emmet Coakley, Roy Butler, Tunmise Sobowale, Jake Mooney, Glenn Waters, Dean Walsh (Alan Fitzsimons `65), Dara Keane (Eoin Porter `65), Aaron O’Connor
CABINTEELY: Sean Hyland, Eoin Haverty (Shaun Whelan `77) , Adam Maher, Leroy Bamlole (Cian Fox Walsh `88), Jamie Broderick, Craig Morley (Matthew Keogh `33), Craig Canty (Dylan McGrath `60), Gavin Howard, Ross Broderick, Dylan O’Connor, Jordan Andrew
Referee: Pat O’Connor assisted by Adam Tszample and Tom Keating