eircom National League First Division

Date	14/12/2002
Score (Blues First)	3 - 2
Venue	St. Colman's Park, Cobh
Kick Off	7.45pm
Attendance	2,100
Weather	Freezing
Referee	Ian Stokes (Dublin)
Goal Scorers	O'Sullivan, Murphy, O'Brien
Cards	None
Pitch	Good surface

This match has been very highly anticipated. Cobh are having an excellent season under the management of former Bohemians player Dave Hill. Three points was the prize on offer for the victors. A win for Cobh would see them back in contention for the League title whilst a win for The Blues would keep us in Pole position and bring the reality of Premier Division football closer. So this match promised to be exciting and tense and it delivered all this and more !

There was a big away support for The Blues in St. Colmans Park and from the first whistle they got straight behind their team. Waterford started strongly playing some good passing football. Our first real threat came on 6 minutes. A free kick from Kevin Waters was met by the head of Vinny Sullivan and went just over the bar. On 16 minutes we came close again with a great three way passing move which involved Kevin O'Brien, Vinny Sullivan, and Daryll Murphy saw the Cobh keeper having to make a save from Murphy's shot on goal. On 19 minutes a free kick five yards away from the Cobh corner flag from Kevin Waters was met at the edge of the box by Gus Di Lella. On 21 minutes a Waterford corner saw David Breen getting above the Cobh defence but his header rattled the crossbar. Cobh were unfortunate not to take the lead on 28 minutes when former Blues player Jason Kabia headed just wide of Russell's post. Our goal came on 35 minutes when we were awarded a penalty when the Cobh centre half climbed on top of Vinny trying to head a high ball away. Nobody in the ground looked for the penalty but lucky for us the referee awarded us one. And up stepped Kevin O'Brien who cooly slotted it home to give us the lead. On 40 minutes one of the best goals seen in years was scored by Vinny Sullivan. From 40 yards Vinny got the ball at his feet he turned and smashed the ball home into the top corner giving the Cobh keeper no chance what so ever. At half time the score was 0-2.

After the break Cobh came back at us and if it wasn't for the brilliance of Wayne Russell it would have been 2-2 after 10 minutes of the second half. We got back at Cobh and started to take control of the game once again. We should have made it 0-3 when a quick one-two from Daryll to Kevin O'Brien saw Kevin with the ball at his feet at the edge of the Cobh box only to put his shot wide. Our first substitution came on 66 minutes Wayne Fitzgerald for Gus. Gus was not too happy and stormed off to the dressing rooms. Not exactly showing great team spirit from Gus. On 72 minutes another penalty was awarded this time for Cobh. A high ball into our box Breeners and Bruton jumped up for it and there was a handball. The whole ground assumed it was a handball from Bruton but the referee saw otherwise and awarded a penalty which Jason Kabia converted. Yes it really was Kabia who scored this is not a misprint. We replied almost instantly. A great solo run from Daryll Murphy and his shot hit the back of the Cobh net. Good goal it came at a crucial time for us. But four minutes later another wonder goal scored but this time it was from Cobh'' striker Steve Yelverton. His goal was very similar to Vinny's. We held our nerve however and came away from Cobh with all three points in the bag.