PADRAIG AMOND HAS signed a new “multi-year deal” with Waterford FC.
Amond, 36, joined the club in January ahead of the 2024 Premier Division season, and has since made a significant impact for Keith Long’s side – scoring 11 goals so far in his return to the League of Ireland. He has scored 13 times across all competitions.
Included was a 13-minute hat-trick against Drogheda United FC in May.
The Carlow man played in the Uk for over 13 years, representing clubs such as Newport County, Grimsby Town, Exeter Town and Woking.
“I’m really pleased to have signed a new deal at Waterford FC,” Amond said. “To be involved with such a talented group of young players that we have at the club at the moment is brilliant and everyone is striving to do the best that they can do for the club.
“Working under the manager and his staff every day is great and I am delighted to continue with it. Since I have come back both my family and I have been welcomed so much by the club and I am really proud to represent the club.
“We have a huge couple of months ahead of us as we try to bring European football for the supporters and people of Waterford, and we will do everything in our power to try and make that happen.”
Waterford FC head coach Keith Long said: “We’re delighted to extend Podge’s contract. He’s been a really important player for us since he’s come to the club in January.
“He’s been equally as important off the pitch for us in terms of his influence around the dressing room, the way he mentors some of the younger players and how he speaks to the players.
“He’s been extremely helpful for the staff, and obviously his performances on the pitch have warranted an extension of his contract.”
If Ahern is valued because of his hybrid abilities, Coombes really should be too. He can offer real ballast at 2nd row if needed and has the height and weight. If there was a ‘last man standing’ scrap between himself, McCarthy and Ryan I think he’d be my bet. Devine hopefully get’s a look in and I’m hoping we see Osborne at 12 or 15. Very interested to see who Easterby gives 10 to v England, nothing between them at the moment imo.
@Lochlainn Garvey: a last man standing scrap??? Too bad it’s not playground rugby. Coombes isn’t a second row and won’t be considered as one for Ireland
@adizlack93: Yep, a scrap. Coombes is big, tough and abrasive in short quarters. All things we have historically lacked when bigger teams have gotten in our faces. Secondly (pun not intended), think you might have missed a few Munster games the past few seasons. Coombes has been deployed at TH lock to great effect.
@Lochlainn Garvey:
Coombes might get away with playing 2nd row with Munster but at international level he is not tall enough.
@Lochlainn Garvey: very aware but Munster and Ireland are not the same. Izzy will be next cab off the rank at SR, then prob Ahern. Whatever way you try to shoehorn Coombes into the squad, he is not better than the incumbent no. 8 Doris or backup Conan and def not a better SR than Beirne, Ryan, McCarthy or Izzy, Baird & Ahern
@Lochlainn Garvey: Coombes just doesn’t seem to have it for international rugby… he is a beast for Munster, but the step up just hasn’t suited him to date. He certainly won’t replace any of the current crop of 2nd row forwards and there are 2 or 3 ahead of him for 8 and 5 or 6 ahead of him for blindside. I am not an international coach so I cannot explain why. Leo Cullen suffered the same problem and never broke into Irish teams… Stu McCloskey did too until he came back stronger. Luke McGrath still does a great job for Leinster but will never be good enough for Ireland. Just the way it is sometimes.
@Paul Ennis: yep, the coaches definitely think there’s a missing link, for the life of me I can’t see what it is (as he’s improved his workrate in fitness this year) but I’m not going to suggest I know more than them! I hope he can get a breakthrough and, like McCloskey, show us what he’s really made of.
@Padraig Fallon: Same height as McCarthy (according to Google at least).
@adizlack93: No doubt there’s a lot of competition (lucky us), and the lads ‘ahead’ of him are all class. I think he’s too good and his skill set too unique for an Irish player not to give him a proper crack. Anyway, hoping Easterby trusts some young lads in any event.
@Lochlainn Garvey: Sorry but Coombes is nowhere near international standard for the second row, especially with the others we have in the country. He’s not up to it when it comes to our other backrows either, we have way too much talent there and his one dimensional game is not enough. It’s not a last man standing scrap. If it was, I’d get Seamus from WWF and throw him in at 8.
@Lochlainn Garvey: he’s definitely improved and it’s one of those good problems to have. I think the issue is he’s slow compared to others and doesn’t have the soft hands Doris and Conan would. Absolutely crucial for Munster though but international rugby is a step up and AF has already had a look a few times
@Paul Ennis: yes. In those two games where he was part of a scratch Irish teams. If we’re deciding guys’ test potential based on those opportunities rather than their ability to deliver excellent performances for their provinces week over week, then pretty soon we’ll have nobody fit for the Irish jersey. He has a nearly 50% strike rate for Munster. In fact, looking at the two paltry chances he was given with Ireland, he has a 50% strike rate with them too.
@Brenda Collins: excellent performances week after week? He wasn’t excellent against Leinster at all and that was the last game before saracens so your statement is wrong
Surely Tom Farrell deserves a mention. He has been the best centre in Irish Rugby this season. I know age might come against him but sometimes form has to be rewarded.
@Marc O’ Meara: it’s a shame but I expect age will go against Farrell much as it did for Frisch.
@Brenda Collins: laughable at how ever Munster player should be in the Ireland squad after a few URC performances. He’s been on Connacht for years doing the same thing ..
Gleeson, Coombes, Ahern or Izzy haven’t done enough in recent games to get a call up. Maybe McNabney and even Murphy get a call???
@Noel Lynn: Izzy and Ahern will be called up if I had to bet
@Noel Lynn: fancy Murphy as a bolter
Yep, a scrap. Coombes is big, tough and abrasive in short quarters. All things we have historically lacked when bigger teams have gotten in our faces. Secondly (pun not intended), think you might have missed a few Munster games the past few seasons. Coombes has been deployed at TH lock to great effect.
Jheez the Coombs argument is over. has been fore a while, don’t see Easterby undercutting AF’s preferences and he simply doesn’t see a place for Coombs in the squad. Aherne might get a call as he was due one before and is returning from injury amicably. Ben Murphy would be excellent in the srum half space and is worth developing given his form, that or Doak, Dont think we should be looking at Blade but he might get the nod on experience.