Shelbourne 2
Waterford FC 2
A DEREK PRENDERGAST equaliser 11 minutes from time ensured Shelbourne picked up a deserved point at home to title favourites Waterford FC in 2-2 draw in Tolka Park on Friday night.
Shels took the lead in the opening 10 minutes when Dayle Rooney crossed from the left and Prendergast was on hand to fire home. But right on the stroke of half time, Waterford were level as Kenny Browne headed home Derek Daly’s cross to make it 1-1 at the break.
Waterford turned the game on its head before the hour mark when David McDaid put the visitors in front, but Prendergast was on hand with 11 minutes remaining to grab a deserved equaliser in an entertaining match on St Patrick’s Day.
Neither side had much control of the opening exchanges but it was Shelbourne who grabbed an early opener. Waterford’s Dave Mulcahy fouled Adam Evans on the left. Rooney fired in the free kick which bobbled around the penalty area before Shels centre-back Prendergast prodded the ball home past Waterford keeper Ian McLoughlin.
Waterford had a great chance to equalise after 20 minutes when David McDaid and Kenny McEvoy linked up well down the right for McEvoy to cross toward the back post, but Daly could only find the side netting from a tight angle.
The visitors had a good chance through Garry Comerford as his initial shot was blocked before his rebound was kept out by Delany. Alan Byrne was again the offender when he fouled Tom Smith down the right for another Waterford chance. Daly’s free kick found McDaid but Delany pulled off a great save.
Despite a slow start, Waterford levelled in first-half stoppage time. Daly again whipped in the free kick and Browne rose highest to head into the bottom corner past Delany in the Shels goal.
James English forced Waterford keeper McLoughlin into a solid save after great link up with Adam Evans shortly afterwards, but a sustained period of pressure had visitors Waterford in front for the first time in the game.
Daly crossed from the left, Browne couldn’t connect with his effort but it dropped to David McDaid who fired home from close range past Delany to make it 2-1 to Waterford.
Both sides had great chances within two second-half minutes. First, Alan Byrne should have done better but headed wide from Rooney’s free kick, before McDaid skipped past two Shels defender before his effort shaved the outside of the post on the break.
But Shelbourne did get an equaliser 11 minutes from time. Waterford had an attacking free kick from the left that was short and Shels broke through Dayle Rooney. He crossed but Waterford’s O’Halloran could only clear to the feet of Prendergast and he fired past McLoughlin to make it 2-2 to give Shelbourne a deserved share of the points.
Meanwhile, in tonight’s other game, UCD drew 1-1 with Wexford Youths.
Ross Kenny’s 56th-minute goal was cancelled out by Gary O’Neill four minutes from time, as the Students grabbed a late point.
Shelbourne: Dean Delany, James Brown, Derek Prendergast, Aidan Collins (Niall Lanigan 46), Reece McEnteer; Lorcan Shannon (Jackson Ryan 71), Mark Hughes, Alan Byrne, Dayle Rooney; James English, Adam Evans.
Waterford FC: Ian McLoughlin; David Mulcahy, Kenny Browne, Patrick McClean, Shane O’Connor; Kenny McEvoy, Smith, Anthony McAlavey (Jake Evans 78), Garry Comerford, Derek Daly (Mark O’Sullivan 82); David McDaid.
Referee: Paula Brady
