Waterford United returned to winning ways at the RSC last night when they proved much too strong for struggling visitors Monaghan United.
Waterford took the lead on 25 minutes when Dave Warren sent in a cross from the left and found David Breen waiting in front of goal. His downward header gave Monaghan goalkeeper Brendan Kennedy no chance.
The Blues increased their lead two minutes later when Vinnie Sullivan spotted Kennedy slightly off his line and executed a beautiful chip from 20 yards that soared over the defence before nestling into the top far corner of the net.
The home side’s third goal came just on the stroke of half-time. Sullivan unleashed a powerful drive from 20 yards but the ball took a cruel deflection off Wayne Byrne and the goalkeeper ended up going the wrong way.
Monaghan lost goalkeeper Kennedy through injury five minutes into the second half and, on 63 minutes, his replacement Danny Woods dropped a Michael Foley corner from the right and Breen stabbed the loose ball into the net from three yards.
Waterford were awarded a penalty on 84 minutes when Woods took down Joe Mulcahy but Sullivan’s effort was poor and Woods dived to his left to save.
Two minutes later Sullivan made amends and claimed his hat-trick when he cruised into the area and lobbed the ball over Woods’ head into the far corner of the net. The last time Waterford scored five goals was in November 2001 against Finn Harps.
The score-line could have been worse for Monaghan but for two super saves from Kennedy. On 36 minutes the goalkeeper dived full length to touch a Sullivan blockbuster out for a corner and two minutes later Kennedy pulled off another top drawer save to deny Joe Mulcahy.
Waterford United: Holden, Quigley, Clarke (Fitzgerald, 67 minutes), Breen, Brown, Warren, McCarthy, Mulcahy, Sullivan, Kiely (Grincell, 63 minutes), Foley (Waters, 73 minutes). Substitutes not used: Fitzpatrick, Spicer.
Monaghan United: Kennedy (Woods, 50 minutes), Maher, Whelan, Mooney, Malone, Tierney, Collins (Meenan, 67 minutes), Byrne (McCrossan, 60 minutes), Sheppard, Lannigan, Hand. Substitutes not used: Hanaphy, Reilly.
Referee: Graham Kelly, Cork.
