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eircom National League First Division

Date	07/10/2001
Score (Blues First)	0 - 0
Venue	Buckley Park, Kilkenny
Kick Off	3.00 PM
Attendance	450
Weather	Showery
Referee	D. Hancock
Goal Scorers	None
Cards	Yellow: Moore
Pitch	Good surface but like swimming pool in parts

A victory in Buckley Park would see us move up the table into a challenging position and show the other teams in this division that The Blues are back. But after creating some 8 or 9 good chances the Blues failed to score and made the short journey home disappointed after another 0-0 draw with the Cats.

Waterford United made all the running in the early stages with Dempsey's runs from deep a pleasure to watch and it seemed only a mater of time before we found the net. The forwards reluctance to shoot on the slippery surface amazed the 250 Blues fans in the ground as the goal opened up once or twice to each of them. Quality balls were being put into the box by Moore and Fitzgerald on what must be the widest pitch in the National League, but the finishing touches were never around. Kilkenny never looked like scoring and only had the odd breakaway chance which was dealt with by Breen and Whittle. The Blues went into the dressing room at half time the happier team but surely PP must have been tearing his hair out at the endless missed opportunities.

The Blues playing into the open end of the ground in the second half started with Dempsey wide on the left and Wayne in the middle. As the game wore on Kilkenny became more of a treat and it was then very noticeable that Demspeys more out wide was not working, but after scoring 4 goals in three games our top scorer was left out wide and our goal chances decreased. The introduction of Joey Watson for a very poor Eric Bradley gave the Blues supporters a little lift. Watson arrival last season always gave the Blues fans something to cheer about, but this year it is becoming very frustrating to watch Joey. Joey just cannot grasp the offside rule and we allowed him time last year, but now we have to be realistic and say that Joey is not just to the standard of the National League. He was again caught offside 5 times and he was only on for half the game. Apart from a few shots by both teams that flew yards wide neither goalkeeper was never really tested on a wet and windy day.

It must be said that Buckley Park looked splendid. The addition of the Stand behind the home goal (Kop end as they call it), made the ground look like a football pitch and you are very close to the action. Seeing a Club who only entered the League of Ireland in 1985 and have no real soccer background leaves all us Waterford fans embarrassed. They have built their own ground with 2 stands close to the pitch, have a big sized club shop which serves tea, and have just received planning permission to start work on another stand at the far side of the ground. Well done Kilkenny and especially Jim Rathigan who deserves so much credit.

Finally, if the Blues are going to push for promotion this season we must find a striker from somewhere who will score 12 goals for us by the end of the League campaign. But he must be found fast before we complete the half way stage.