Sheridan signs in style when Waterford wins at Bohs

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Waterford manager John Sheridan ended his brief reign with a victory when his team beat the Bohemians 2-0 at Dalymount Park in what the club confirmed was their last game in charge.

The former Republic of Ireland international will return to his native Lancashire to take over at Wigan Athletic and leaves the Blues in third place after taking over just over two months ago.

First-half goals from Ali Coote and Tyreke Wilson led the away team to victory, while John Martin, twice, and Wilson also hit home when the score, if anything, flattered the home side.

The first quarter of the game was up to the hosts, who controlled possession and easily found holes in the Blues’ defensive structure.

Two chances in the first 90 seconds warned of what was to come when Andre Wright nodded with an Andy Lyons cross before Danny Mandroiu’s daisy cutter missed the post.

Waterford was caught taking a nap from a free throw routine when Mandroiu came up short against James Finnerty, and his loop shot was well controlled by Brian Murphy.

Murphy was forced to save a failed punt by Robert Weir and a well-hit free kick by Mandroiu as the hosts increased the pressure.

Danny Grant was denied a chance to break the deadlock in the 20th minute when he clung to a glorious Mandroiu pass and was harshly judged offside.

Waterford wouldn’t register his first shot of the game, courtesy of Coote, until the 21st minute, but Coote’s wayward effort heralded a turnaround.

Moments later, Wilson showed great tenacity to push the frame forward and forcing Stephen McGuinness to save at the full stretch, Kurtis Byrne blew the fumble.

They would take the lead in a minute when Wilson set up midfielder Coote to shoot from a distance and his shot drifted off Dan Casey’s calf and skidded onto the grass.

McGuinness should still have handled it comfortably, but the ball twisted in the keeper’s hands and slid into the net.

It was nearly 2-0 shortly thereafter, when John Martin’s shot bounced off the crossbar with McGuinness beaten.

Another defensive calamity led to goal number two when Casey was caught in possession by Michael O’Connor coming off defense and awkwardly thrown over the striker.

Wilson and Byrne stood on the free kick and the young former Manchester City defender was the one to step forward, curving the ball beautifully over the wall and into the bottom corner.

Bohs continued to enjoy most of the possession in the second half, but it was Waterford who seemed more likely to add to the scoreboard, Cootes and O’Connor shooting very far.

Martin hit the wood once more with a header off the back post before Wilson saw his free throw break the post stump moments later.

Grant and Finnerty would force the stops of former Dalymount favorite Murphy, but the Blues watched the game comfortably to move to third place.

Bohemians: Stephen McGuinness; Andy Lyons, James Finnerty, Dan Casey, Anto Breslin; Keith Buckley, JJ Lunney (Conor Levingston 50), Danny Mandroiu (Promise Omochere 77); Danny Grant (Keith Ward 77), Kris Twardek, Andre Wright (Glen McAuley 71).

Waterford: Brian Murphy; Oluwatunmise Sobowakle, Jake Davidson, Robbie McCourt, Tyreke Wilson; Alistair Coote, Robert Weir, John Martin (Niall O’Keeffe 83); Michael O’Connor (Dean Walsh 70), Matthew Smith, Kurtis Byrne.

Referee: Damien McGraith.



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