Waterford will play Athlone Town in a SSE Airtricity Men's First Division play-off semi-final tie after a 2-0 win over Treaty United at the RSC ended the Limerick side's chances of pipping the midlanders into the coveted top five.
Goals from Ryan Burke and Dean McMenamy were the difference as the Blues took the three points.
Treaty needed to win with other results going their way across the league in order to earn a play-off spot. This emboldened the Shannonsiders once the game started and they pinned Waterford inside their own half.
Barrett’s team were assertive and won a corner from a Success Edogun shot inside five minutes, and the resulting set-piece came to nothing.
The Blues' first chance came from a Treaty free that Barry Baggley headed away and the ball went to Romeo Akachukwu. He played Ronan Coughlan into space and the in-form striker was denied by a Mark Walsh tackle.
Treaty responded by winning another free – their third of the game – and Conor Barry’s ball missed everyone inside the penalty area.
Waterford won their first corner in the 15th minute through a Ben O’Riordan clearance that was caught by the wind. Walsh was on hand to deal with the set-piece by heading the ball away at the back post.
Things seemed to wind down, as if the two teams were trying to work out a way to play their traditional game in conditions that seemed to get worse with every passing second.
Treaty had the majority of possession during this spell of the game, and Waterford comfortably held their Munster rivals at arm’s length.
If anything summed this up, it was Marc Ludden sending in a cross and Dean George headed the ball out for a corner without drawing a save from Sam Sargeant.
The second half started with the Waterford goalkeeper going long and Coughlan managed to get to the ball. He twisted clear of his marker before seeing a right legged shot go inches wide in the 52nd minute.
That was the start of Waterford asserting themselves and taking control of the pace of the game.
There was a new level of intensity in their play, and it led to the opening goal just a minute after Coughlan missed the target.
Everything started with a corner that Baggley sent in and Treaty headed the ball to Burke. His volley beat everyone inside the area and Waterford took the lead in the 55th minute.
Roland Idowu set up McMenamy for a simple finish and that wrapped up the points at the 90th minute.
90+4' | WEVE DONE IT!!
— Athlone Town AFC (@AthloneTownAFC) October 20, 2023
🔵⚫️0-0🟡🟡#CmonTheTown | #SupportLocal
🔵⚫️ pic.twitter.com/zUnBiFLL0N
The Blues now move onto the play-off semi-final first leg against Athlone, who booked their place in the fight by promotion by drawing 0-0 with Longford Town.
Cobh Ramblers – another team that will fight for a place in next season’s Premier Division – were denied a win against Kerry FC at St Colman’s Park, with Kennedy Amechi scoring a late equaliser for the Kingdom.
Galway United will avoid that route to the top tier as they are league champions. They celebrated that with a trophy lift following a 2-0 victory over Wexford FC at Eamonn Deacy Park.
The three points means that John Caulfield’s team have done an unbeaten season at home.
The other game in the First Division involved Bray Wanderers and Finn Harps and it finished 1-1 at the Carsile Grounds.
Waterford FC: Sam Sargeant; Darragh Power, Ryan Burke, Rowan McDonald (Niall O’Keeffe 60), Barry Baggley (Shane Griffin 60), Crowe, Connor Parsons, Derik Osede, Ronan Coughlan (Cameron Cresswell 67), Roland Idowu, Giles Philips (Samuel Perry 77), Romeo Akachukwu (Dean McMenamy 60).
Treaty United: Corey Chambers; Ben O’Riordan, Marc Ludden, Lee Devitt (Adam Lennon 74), Conor Barry, Success Edogun (Enda Curran 73), Dean George, Stephen Christopher (William Armshaw 73), Colin Conroy, Mark Walsh, Robbie Lynch (Dean O’Shea 80).
Referee: Chris Sheehan
