St Patrick's Athletic 0 Waterford United 1: Off and running for Waterford, who at the 21st time of asking recorded their first league victory of the season. And the travelling support rejoiced further once news filtered through that Bray Wanderers had squandered a lead.
New manager Gareth Cronin has revitalised the struggling side of late and they could hardly have envisaged such a perfect start. Less than a minute in Alan Cawley capitalised on a defensive mistake and, after evading two challenges, tucked the ball past Barry Ryan from close range.
The visitors, though, lived a charmed life thereafter and were indeed fortunate not to have conceded by the break. Trevor Molloy did have the measure of goalkeeper Ben Spicer shortly before the break but his shot deflected off John Hayes for a corner.
Molloy, Anto Murphy, Dave Mulcahy and Paul Keegan all peppered the Waterford goal in the second half but still St Patrick's could find no way through a defence that wobbled and creaked but which ultimately stood the test.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Ryan; Brennan, C Foley, Maguire, Rutherford; Murphy, Fahey, Mulcahy, O'Connor; Quigley, Molloy. Subs: Keegan for Maguire (half-time), Grogan for O'Connor (66), Rooney for Molloy (79).
WATERFORD UNITED: Spicer; Flynn, Hayes, Keely, Hedderman; Cawley, Grant, Reynolds, P McCarthy, Kavanagh; G McCarthy. Subs: Russell for P McCarthy (53), McDonald for Kavanagh (58), Fraher for G McCarthy (89). Booked: McCarthy (28), Russell (74).
Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).
