Shamrock Rovers 1 Warterford Utd 1:Last night's Premier Division game between Shamrock Rovers and Waterford United was abandoned after 52 minutes after a floodlight pylon became unearthed in high winds.

The pylon, on the main stand side at the Drumcondra end of Tolka Park, began swaying seven minutes into the second half. Stanchions in the stadium are fixed to the ground, but the bolts on the one in question became loose.

Shamrock Rovers officials spotted the problem and alerted on-site gardaí and an engineer.

Referee Declan Hanney inspected the problem with safety officers and called an immediate halt to the game.

The teams were tied at one goal apiece.

The game will be rescheduled and played from the start.

Tonight's First Division game between Shelbourne and Finn Harps scheduled for Tolka Park could be switched to Whitehall.

Waterford had made the best possible start, edging ahead after just four minutes.

Robbie Hedderman floated a ball into the area and striker Vinny Sullivan judged his run to perfection, beating the trap before coolly volleying home past Barry Murphy.

Rovers retaliated just after the half hour.

Danny O'Connor's looping header from Dave Cassidy's corner should have been dealt with but Dean Delaney and Hedderman dallied and the ball crept in.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Murphy; O'Brien, Danny O'Connor, Ferguson, Clarke; Duffy, Ryan, Cassidy, Dave O'Connor; Rowe, Myler (Purcell, half-time).

WATERFORD UNITED: Delaney; Flynn, Breen, Browne, Hedderman; Harte, Warren, McCarthy, Kavanagh; Brosnan, Sullivan.

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin)