Shamrock Rovers - 0 Waterford Utd - 1:National League: Vinny Sullivan proved the Waterford goal hero for the second week running with a late winner to narrow the gap on Premier Division leaders Shelbourne to three points.
Having defended superbly throughout at Richmond Park, Waterford struck for the only goal of the game on 85 minutes with a classic counter-attack to inflict a fifth successive defeat on Shamrock Rovers.
Captain Willie Byrne intercepted a stray pass to stride forward and put Sullivan through with a sublime pass. Sullivan did the rest, picking his spot in the far corner with a shot with the outside of his right foot.
The result was all the more creditable as Waterford manager Jimmy McGeough wasn't afforded the luxury Rovers enjoyed of being able to name an unchanged side, with injury and suspension depriving him of four first-teamers and necessitating a Premier Division debut up front for Gavin Phelan.
As muted as the small Bank Holiday crowd, the game was slow to get going, with the first chance on 14 minutes indicative of the poor start.
Shane Robinson combined well on the right with Tony Grant to cross low. Trevor Molloy's attempted flick didn't come off and Stephen Grant, at the back post, dragged his shot across goal, before Waterford cleared the danger.
Well-organised, Waterford defended well and hit Rovers on the break when they could, and Phelan had the confidence to shoot from 35 yards but see his effort go narrowly over Barry Ryan's crossbar.
Rovers stepped up the tempo towards half-time but continued to struggle to create profitable openings.
Molloy was central to much of Rovers' probing, dragging a shot wide when he worked the opening well, and shooting against a defender, before his best piece of play three minutes before the interval, when his dummy made the room, but again the left-foot shot was off target.
Thankfully the omens were good within minutes of the resumption with Tony Grant laying the ball off for Molloy, whose curling shot was inches over Dan Connor's bar.
Tony Grant then showed some nimbleness of foot to run Waterford captain Willie Byrne as he collected Stephen Grant's ball forward to put him through on goal, but Connor showed alertness to be out and make the save with his feet.
The ball was in the visitors' net on 63 minutes but Tony Grant was adjudged to have fouled Byrne as he challenged for Alan Reynolds's ball forward before he lobbed Connor.
The longer it went on the pressure on the Waterford goal mounted but they continued to defend superbly.
That doggedness was exemplified on 74 minutes when Rovers virtually laid siege to the Waterford goal.
First Paul Rudden bravely put his body on the line to block a stinging shot from Jason Colwell.
Rovers retained possession and Stephen Grant's cross was then headed off the line at the back post by Paul Leahy as the Waterford goal somehow survived.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Ryan; Gough, Palmer, Byrne, Keddy; Robinson (Tracey, 90 mins), Reynolds, Colwell (Deans, 75 mins), S Grant; A Grant, Molloy (Fitzpatrick, 80 mins).
WATERFORD UNITED: Connor; McLoughlin, Mallon, Byrne, Leahy; O'Brien, Clifford (PJ Banville, 86 mins), Rudden (Hughes, 81 mins), Waters; Phelan (Rockett, 57 mins), Sullivan.
Referee: J McDermott (Dublin).
