Waterford 2
Cork City 0
GOALS FROM SHANE Duggan and Zack Elbouzedi fired Waterford to a fully-deserved Munster derby win over Cork City at the RSC.
Both sides had good spells in the first half but neither could find the net, before Waterford pushed on for a deserved three points after the break.
The home side started brightly and Kevin Lynch’s cross found Bastien Hery but his overhead kick drifted wide. At the other end, James Tilley picked out Graham Cummins but his dangerous cross was collected by Waterford goalkeeper Matthew Connor.
Tilley tried his own luck minutes later but couldn’t find the target, before Lynch forced Cork City goalkeeper Mark McNulty into a smart one-handed save to stop the ball nestling in the top corner.
John Caulfield’s side thought they’d taken a 32nd-minute lead when Conor McCarty found Cummins to head the ball at goal. Connor saved before Garry Buckley found the net, only to be ruled out for offside.
Conor McCormack was wide of the target before Waterford had two good chances to end the half. Hery found the run of Elbouzedi but the attacker blazed over, before Hery himself shot narrowly wide after an Aaron Drinan break down the left.
Waterford started the second half like they’d finished, Duggan forcing McNulty into another excellent save to keep out his curling strike.
Rory Feely’s header from Elbouzedi’s free-kick was straight at McNulty, before Dan Casey took another Feely effort off the line.
Waterford got the goal their second-half endeavour deserved as Duggan feigned to shoot before making space to fire at goal from 25-yards beyond McNulty.
McNulty kept out another Duggan chance as the minutes wore down, but Alan Reynolds’ side weren’t to be denied a second.
As City pushed to level, Waterford scored on the counter. Feely headed clear and Elbouzedi raced away before firing past McNulty to double the lead and secure the points.
WATERFORD: Matthew Connor, Aaron Simpson (Georgie Poynton 72), Rory Feely, Damien Delaney, Kevin Lynch (Karolis Chvedukas 56), Bastien Héry, JJ Lunney, Shane Duggan, Zack Elbouzedi, Aaron Drinan, Izzy Akinade (Dean Walsh 90).
CORK CITY: Mark McNulty, Dan Casey, Shane Griffin, Conor McCarthy, Sean McLoughlin, Garry Buckley, Conor McCormack (Daire O’Connor 77), Gearoid Morrissey, James Tilley, Darragh Crowley (Daniel Smith 67), Graham Cummins (Darragh Rainsford 81).
Referee: Neil Doyle.
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no Conway is the man. fast can tackle & safe hands under a high ball
@john fleming: shtop.
@john fleming: Ha ha ha
He’s too dangerous a finisher to take off the wing. I’d like to see Stockdale-Lowe-Larmour next season
@Rudiger McMonihan: Lowe is qualified?
@Rudiger McMonihan: that would be a ridiculous backline
@Rudiger McMonihan: oh Jesus Christ !!!!
@Bluepoolroad: after the world cup
I think it’s November 2020 before he qualifies
@Rudiger McMonihan: Keith Earls won’t be pushed out that easily.
@Rudiger McMonihan: Jesus did earl’s steal your wife or something
@Padraic Burke: Earls isn’t half the player that Lowe is.
Earl’s is much older and in a years time it is unlikely that he will still be the best winger. If he is then fair play to him. I hope I’m proven wrong!
@Baz Dunne: your right. He’s twice the player.
@Anthony:
For Leinster the qualification of Jamison Gibson-Park at the end of 2019 will mean J Lowe should become a regular because that 2 into 3 problem will be gone. But it will not be till next year that he could qualifie (if he wants to go for a place in the Ireland setup)
A fine player but Earls is the man !!
@Baz Dunne: And you’re clearly not half the expert you think you are.
@Bluepoolroad: yes Lowe can play I. Next 6nations I think … has to be in the mix as does Adam Byrne I think if he keeps progressing post the Kearney, Earls era
Is there anything to be said for Simon Zebo?
@southside: No
@southside: if he comes back then absolutely
@Rudiger McMonihan: Zebo shouldn’t have to come back to qualify. He is 1/2 French and has chosen to experience that culture. Should that restrict his eligibility?? NO
Bad example but Imagine telling Irish soccer players plying their trade in England you need to play in the league of Ireland.
Zebo record try scorer for Munster
Was on shortlist in his 1 season for Top 14 player of the year. Of course he should be considered.
@southside: yeah get lost Simon
@T Meister: yes it most certainly should restrict it. We need to protect our provincial game because at the moment it’s working. Look at how bad the French team are because they have no control over french club players
@T Meister: I can’t believe we’re STILL having the Zebo conversation.
@Anthony:
So should Sexton have been dropped too?
@The Great Unwashed:
Different times my friend and all gone over many many times .
@Anthony: FREEDOM of choice for ALL.
Best players who qualify for this country should be considered. Provinces should stand on their own merits encourage Irish players to stay but not the detriment of the National Side being able to choose The Best 15.
@Martin Quinn:
Not different times at all. The ‘rule’ applied to players before Sexton and after Sexton, so why didn’t it apply to Sexton himself?
You can’t have a policy and then choose to disregard it when it’s inconvenient – either it’s the policy or it isn’t.
@The Great Unwashed: maybe you should change your name to the great uneducated, this was enforced because of sexton.
@Chris Mc:
What does that even mean? The policy was there long before Sexton moved to Racing, so why wasn’t it applied to him as it was applied to other players who moved overseas?
@The Great Unwashed: I know the reason as you certainly do by the question you asked and for THIS reply to be published this is all I can say.
No.
His a winger.
Stick to players playing in there natural position. Instead of fannying about.
@Paddy Waggon: played u20 at full back and pretty impressive at that
@Kevin Donnelly: why was he moved to the wing so .
@Paddy Waggon: To get game time in a position which is not as challenging for a young inexperienced player. He will be Ulster’s 15 for years to come imo
Even though his defence has improved over the past 12 months, it remains the weakest part of his game. At 15 he could be exposed by all of the open ground as opposed to being able to use the touchline as an extra defender. It could improve for pro14 level but I don’t think he could manage international.
@Declan Snow: It’s his defensive positioning and reads that have let him down, rather than his tackle technique. At 15 he’ll only really be needed to shut someone down when they break the line and he has the speed to do it. Would really like to see him there.
The thoughts of a Stockdale, Lowe, Larmour back 3 going into the next world cup cycle is mouth watering!
I’d prefer to see Larmour getting some serious game time back there!
He needs to be given a few games on the run
@Aaron Tynan: In what aspect(s) of his game is Jordan better than Jacob?
@Bluepoolroad: actually grounding the ball for one
@John Keenan: savage
@John Keenan: that was harsh now in fairness.
@Stephen Foster: funny tho
@Bluepoolroad:
Knowing when to pass.
I think everyone is forgetting about Addison. I think he will have a say in that back 3 over the next 4 – 8 years.
Stockdale can’t / won’t pass.
You need a 15 that can pass.
@Bungee Aky: so Rob Lyttle got the ball by telepathy on Friday night?
@Ian Frizzell: you said it
@Bungee Aky: Rob “Straightens the line” Kearney never saw a ball he couldnt run into the first chaser with
@Bungee Aky: Kearney is knowing for his passing rather than his running into contact ;-)
@Bungee Aky: also a dodgy defender
@Kevin Donnelly: In what alternate universe is that true?
I never feel confident that he will catch a high contested ball in game.
The question is, who will be fb come world cup
Henshaw is our best natural fullback, I hope Joe sticks with him in the warm ups.
@Rochelle: showed against england he has almost no positional sense to defend the chip over the top. If he isnt playing 15 for leinster (he wont be) its a non runner for Ire
@Rochelle: He is in his hoop
@Kazoochka: bovine excrement! He covered as well as anyone would have with that defensive set up. Even with the tweaks that followed RK with all his experience was caught several times v Italy. Give players that much time to look up and pick and choose their kicks and with nobody else dropping into the backfield the best 15 in the world would have struggled. England just out gunned us tactically and broke our defence down, I wouldn’t go pointing the finger at any one player.
@Kazoochka: both Earls and Stockdale made horrible calls in the game and expecting an full back to read those is a bit much.
Larmour is prob next in line, he still has a lot of learning to do in my opinion. There are a lot of times in games where his decision making with ball in hand gets him (team) in trouble. No doubting his ability but sometimes he should just take the direct line of contact and get go forward rather than trying to jink statically around guys and then get pushed back a few meters
Well itd be interesting. Hes a tall lad so fielding wouldnt be an issue. In terms of speed hes very quick as well. But is he too tqll that hes an easier target?
Worth a try at least.
I’d much rather keep him on the wing. It’s a pity Haley has taken the fullback position at Munster as I believe Conway is our best all rounded fullback in the country. While larmour and Addison have still to add to their game, I believe Conway has all the right attributes to make a top quality fullback at international level.
@Anthony O Connell: Conway has never really claimed the Munster 15 shirt and always seems to be injured when the internationals come around. He’s no spring chicken either.
You shut up.
I’m Eoin McLove.
I can do what I lie!