Waterford United 1 St Patrick's Athletic 0: Despite having an extra man for almost an hour, Waterford United made little headway against a dogged St Patrick's Athletic at the RSC and were somewhat fortunate to take all three points.

The game's only goal arrived on 73 minutes when Pat Purcell outjumped everybody in a crowded goalmouth to head a Colm Heffernan corner from the right to the net. Goalkeeper Barry Ryan got a hand to the ball but couldn't keep it out.

The exchanges in the first half were just about even with both sides failing to avail of a succession of half-chances in front of goal.

Willie Doyle went closest for United on the half-hour when he raced forward to get under a high ball from an Alan Reynolds free but his volley from a tight angle was inches wide of the far post.

Five minutes before half-time, Blues striker Daryl Murphy turned defender when he whipped the ball away just as Stephen Caffrey swung his leg to shoot from six yards.

St Patrick's Athletic were reduced to 10 men on 38 minutes when Keith Dunne was sent off for striking Purcell.

United almost conceded an own goal 15 seconds after the restart when goalkeeper Pat Holden's volley from a Purcell back-pass ricocheted off Ger Rowe and missed entering the net by the width of the upright.

The Blues, with their three substitutes already used, played the final five minutes of the game with 10 men after Kevin Doherty was taken off the pitch on a stretcher suffering from a face injury.

WATERFORD UNITED: Holden, Andrews, Frost, Reynolds, Doherty, Purcell, Heffernan, Mulcahy, Murphy, Doyle, Waters. Substitutes: Finn for Andrews (73 mins), Bruton for Doyle (54 mins), Sullivan for Waters (63 mins).

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan, Prenderville, Donnelly, Caffrey, McGuire, C. Foley, M. Foley, Fahey, Perth, Rowe, Dunne. Substitutes: O'Keeffe for McGuire (76 mins), Quigley for M. Foley (87 mins).

Referee: Pat Kelly, Cork.