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eircom National League First Division

Date	04/03/2002
Score (Blues First)	2 - 1
Venue	Whitehall, Dublin
Kick Off	7.45pm
Attendance	583 (302 Waterford fans)
Weather	Mild with light rain
Referee	Dublin City Fan T. Buttimer
Goal Scorers	Hunt, Dempsey
Cards	Red: Flanagan Yellow: Fitzgerald
Pitch	Very soft

Victory in Kilkenny had given the Blues hope of second spot, but now was the test. League leaders Dublin City had to be beaten on their own patch (well Home Farm's patch really), Monday night was our next cup final. Spirits were high among, players, management and supporters as we hit the big smoke.

 

Disaster struck in the opening minutes as the large Waterford contingent (over half of crowd), cheered on their hero's on a mild night. Kelvin Flanagan kicked out at Tony Sheridan and was rightly sent to the stand. The manager's system of 4-5-1 was now totally upset and we reverted to 4-4-1 with Myler on his own up front. The home fans (50 of them), were shell-shocked a few minutes later when The Blues were awarded a free kick on the edge of our box, and Waters, spotted Hunty running down right, drove the ball 80 yards over defence onto hunty toe and he calmly slotted the ball passed the super (Ha,Ha) Dubs keeper. 10 men and 1 up, this was fairytale stuff, but we enjoyed the moment. A well deserved equaliser arrived shortly afterwards, and to be fair Dublin ran us ragged for the rest of the half. They got a man wide on each side of the park, and with quality passing found space all over the pitch to run at our defence. They put super crosses into our box time and time again, but thankfully no one was on the end of them. Half time arrived and it was only by how many we would lose by in the second half. As the heavy pitch was bound to take it's toll, on our over worked players.

Nobody could have predicated the way the second half would go. From the start the Waterford Players took the game to the Dubs, we passed the ball around with confidence, tackled as if our lives depended on it and covered every inch of the pitch. Podge Drew took over the game in the middle and ran the show as we started to create half chances, as the game flew from end to end. Our defence coped exceptionally well and never gave the experienced the journey men a decent chance to score. Myler, Drew, Fitzgerald, Dempsey and Waters were all forcing openings to trouble the home side and the traveling fans were getting louder and louder trying to will the ball into the net. It was the 5th minute injury time, that sent 300+ Blues fans wild with delight. Podge took a corner from the right and drove the ball into the near post and the Dublin Keeper left the ball slip, it hit the post and the Amazing Gary Dempsey was on hand to tap home form 2 yards. You'd have though we had won the League, celebrations not seen since that league victory in Cork in 1972, players hugging players, fans kissing each other and Jimmy McGeough and Seamie Coad embraced. Their was barely time to kick off before the referee blew full time and The Blues were up into second place pushing for promotion to the big league.

Dublin City it must be said were getting the rub of the green all season, but it was easy to see why on Monday night. The Referee gave the home side everything. Every decision, was given to the Dubs, even the Linesmen were totally one sided and did not do the game in a fair manner. If Dublin City do get promoted this year it will be interesting to see how they do next year when they won't get these decisions against $hels, St Pats and Rovers. But it's terrible to see teams training all week and then see referee's robbing them. Saying this we have no complaint about Flanagan's sending off, it's just everything else!!!!!

This result now means with 3 games left, the Blues will get second spot and be be playing hopefully Longford Town in the Promotion-Regelation play off on the first weekend in April. Come on you mighty Blues.