Waterford United took all three points at St Colman’s Park in this Munster Derby on Sunday, with star man Justin Croke scoring twice. The Blues midfielder opened the scoring just before the break but Cobh levelled minutes into the second half through Stephen Sharpe. Eoin Porter put the visitors back in front soon after and Croke secured the win with his second of the game.
The first half was a relatively quiet affair with the first real chance coming on the half hour mark. Waterford captain Eoin Porter sent in a high cross which looped over Dean Ring in the Ramblers goal and onto the post. The rebound bounced across the goal-line before the relieved Ring got hold of it. Dan Moloney went closest for the Rams in the half when his long range effort was well saved by Eoin Power, the Waterford ‘keeper. Both sides attempted to play nice football and a goal was inevitable. The opener came after 40 minutes as Darryl Walsh’s free kick was headed home by the unmarked Justin Croke. They almost doubled their lead moments later when Ring had to be at his best to deny Ryan Lambe and it was the visiting side who went in 1-0 up at the break.
The Rams couldn’t have started the half any better, equalising on 48 minutes through Stephen Sharpe. Killian Cooper produced a fine cross on the left which was met by the onrushing Sharpe who made no mistake with a bullet header from 10 yards. Their lead didn’t last long however as Blues captain Eoin Porter rifled a shot home, thanks to a harsh deflection, from just outside the box. Porter was in fine form and he was the catalyst for his side’s third goal on 52 minutes. After some good work on the right hand side he sent a low ball across the box which was tapped into the net by Croke for his second of the match. Cobh looked out of the tie at this stage but didn’t let their heads drop. Their closest chance came when Rob Slevin headed Cameron Hendry’s cross inches wide. Waterford centre back Darryl Walsh had an impressive game and his emphatic volley was well saved by Ring as the game entered the final phases. The away side had the ball in the net for a fourth time late on when substitute Sean Roche finished off a loose ball from Cobh’s Matthew Lamb. It was ruled out for offside however and the game finished 3-1 to Waterford.
Cobh fall to sixth place in the table following the loss, level with Limerick on four points. Waterford sit in third place, five points off league leaders Cork City. Both sides are on the road next weekend. Ramblers face the other South-East side, Wexford Youths, while Waterford visit League of Ireland newcomers Cabinteely.
Cobh Ramblers: Dean Ring, Cameron Hendry, Matt Murray, Ciaran Couch (Dan Lucey), Dylan Wentz (Colin Lemass), Dan Moloney (Matthew Lamb), Liam Milner (Killian Murphy), Steve Sharpe, Nathan Broderick (Jamie Kent), Killian Cooper
Substitutes: Dan Ruddy, Ryan O’Regan
Waterford United: Eoin Power, Darragh Corcoran, Shane Ryan, Samuel Hickey, Darryl Walsh, Timise Sobawale, Dean Beresford (Sean Martin), Ryan Lambe, Justin Croke (Sean Roche), Adam Feeney, Eoin Porter
Substitutes: Jack Dolan, Liam Flanagan, Jordan Molloy
By Thomas Stafford
