HOORAY HERY
Bastien on target as Drogs bow out
EXPERIENCE doesn’t always triumph over youth, but it counted at United Park last night as Waterford’s wizened warriors dumped Drogheda out of the FAI Cup.
At 35, Noel Hunt knows he’s nearer his last Cup final than his first, which was with Shamrock Rovers in 2002, but he buzzed around United Park like a firefly.
The shiny pate of Paul Keegan, 34, glistened in the lights as he directed traffic in midfield, meanwhile. Keegan was a Cup winner with Drogheda in 2005, a triumph which kick-started a golden period for the Boynesiders.
These days, they are scrambling for a foot-hold in the First Division promotion play-offs, to where they can turn their attention for the rest of the season.
With new stadium plans accelerating, the good days may yet return but Drogheda will need to tap in to the support more. Keeping admission prices at last season’s Premier Division levels wasn’t a popular move among their local support base.
Unlike Shamrock Rovers in the previous round a fortnight ago, there was nothing casual about Waterford, who struck early through Bastien Hery and never relinquished their grip.
Although Drogheda were plucky, there was a sense the Blues could have stepped up a gear if required as they close in on a Euro return via two routes — League and Cup.
The grand old competition has not been kind to Waterford, even in the halcyon days of Hale, Thomas and Matthews, but they might sneak up on it this year when it’s kind of unexpected.
On an evening hinting at autumn, Waterford drew blood with their first effort on goal, a 25-yarder from Hery which seemed speculative but was well placed into the bottom corner beyond Paul Skinner.
With their noses in front, Waterford almost had a second soon after when the gangly Izzy Akinade lobbed over.
As they bossed possession, without ever cutting loose, manager Alan Reynolds demanded urgency.
‘Hunty, I need more,’ he bellowed early in the first half. In fairness, Hunt acknowledged the demand and by the break he might have stretched Waterford’s lead.
Apart from a Sean Brennan effort which was struck too close to Niall Corbett, Drogheda saw little of the Blues goal in the opening half although Richie Purdy appealed for a penalty when an angled shot was deflected out for a corner.
Drogheda took the tie to their Premier League opponents with commendable pluck in the second half but in doing so, left gaps at the back.
After Mark Doyle dragged wide for Drogheda just past the hour, Akinade was denied by Skinner in a one-on-one situation, and Dessie Hutchinson subsequently shot a whisker over the bar.