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eircom National League First Division

Date	29/11/2001
Score (Blues First)	1 - 1
Venue	RSC, Waterford
Kick Off	7.30 PM
Attendance	1,200
Weather	Windy + raining
Referee	D. Hancock
Goal Scorers	O'Brien C
Cards	Yellow: Whittle D
Pitch	Very greasy and soft

With the chance to go top of the table and a big crowd in attendance this was by far the Blues poorest performance in months. After building up the hopes of fans over the last eight matches as we became real promotion contenders the players seemed to run out of steam and show us to be an average team against a poor Kilkenny team.

We got the perfect start when Colin O'Brien picked up a loose ball just outside and placed it into the corner of the net out of the Keepers reach. This sent the home fans wild and far above our expectations as local derbys are usually tense affairs were both teams take a while to settle. It was only the lack of finishing power that kept the Cats in the match as we ran them a merry dance for the first 20 minutes. Maybe it was the soft pitch, heavy rain or the idea that the game was won but we stopped playing and sat back on the edge of our box and invited Kilkenny to come at us. Playing against a strong wind we were happy to hear the half time whistle from referee Hancock who was doing quite well in difficult conditions.

Did we forget to come out in the second half? What happened in the dressing room is anybodys guess but the Waterford team we saw after the interval would be lucky to finish in mid table never mind push for promotion or a play off place. To say we were dreadful and never tried would be an understatement. kilkenny had 3 chances to score before they finally put the ball in the net from a corner kick when Waterfords marking left a lot to be desired. Gary Dempsey didn't realise what he was in the box for as a player standing beside him headed the ball into the net. For some reason after this with 5 minutes left, somebody must have told the players that a match was on tonight and then we tried in vain to grab a goal before Mr Hancock sent us home upset and diappointed at what we had witnessed.

Can we lift ourselves for the visit of Dublin City next friday night?? Will the supporters bother to turn up?? Will PP move O'Brien back out on the right?? Many questions need to be answered in the aftermath of the most depressing nihgt of the season.