TUBBRITT.NET

A brilliant performance in Dublin on Monday night and everyone was expecting a great run in
against the 3 basement teams in the division. Nine points and second spot was ours and a trip to
Longford for the play off. Myler would score against his old club and with Hunt and Dempsey adding
one each a 3-0 win was on the cards. After buying the match programme I thought Flanagan wouldn't be playing as he appeared on the programme cover and this is always a sign.

Everything seemed to be perfect as kick off approached, a large crowd turned up, the players looked up for the match in the warm up. Our hopes and dreams of Premier football, were just three games away, the talk was of McGeough and his spirit rubbing off on the team and he had just signed a 2 year contract the previous day, when the Stadium announcer named the Blues team and number 1 was Paul Binder. When did he return from injury? What happened Fennelly who had played the last 10 games? Why change a team who had put so much effort into Monday night and had done well? But this was the managers decision and we couldn't question with it?????? We started poorly and just couldn't get going the fans tried their best, singing, shouting chants and encouraging the players but to no avail. A massive error by Flanagan cost us possession in our own half and Glen Fitzpatrick made no mistake of the early Paddy's Day present to put the Midlanders 1 up. The Blues liven up after this and created 5 good chances but hadn't the killer touch in front of goal. Playing a 4-5-1 formation, Dempsey and Hunt were not getting up to support Myler in his loan quest as the manager had planned. Half time approached and some big decisions had to be made.

Changes had to be made and Jimmy did so. But why oh why withdraw Podge Drew who was our best player on Monday night and was doing well? The introduction of "Boom, Boom, Boom Let me hear you say Wayno Wayno" was probably the best option but left us without a play maker in midfield. Our lack of confidence, determination and interest really got to the fans in the second half and for the first time in weeks went quiet in the main stand. Why bother when the players don't seem to care? How can 11 players have on off day, sorry Gary, 10 players. Bad defending by the home side gave Glen Fitzpatrick a second chance midway through the second period and didn't he finish well! Athlone Town came to Waterford with nothing to play for except pride and with a place in the top flight on offer for the Blues we weren't able to lift our game. The sending off of an Athlone player gave us hope and when Gary Dempsey got his head to a cross and put the ball in the net, hope was restored. With 15 minutes to go victory was back in sight. We attacked with purpose and it was only a matter of time before we equalised. Then as in Kilkenny (Cup match) David Walsh, couldn't take a bad tackle (which it was), and reacted by retaliating and gave the referee no option but to send him off. A cool head was needed and Squealer let us down. Athlone were reduced to 9 men but this incident saw us lose our rhythm and the match ended with defeat and a sickened home support left he RSC in total disbelief.

Our season can be summed up by this 17 games played in the RSC and only 7 victories, this is not he form of a team going for promotion. It's time to make our home patch a winning patch. Interesting to hear Jimmy on the radio the next day saying that if Gary Dempsey moves on next season he has a lot of contacts around to bring in new players. I hope that they are better than his few purchases this year, who have not impressed in the Blue jersey. Looks like we have to start form scratch again next season! The only difference being we will be champions in November as summer soccer is introduced into the eircom league.