Waterford United 2 Derry City 1:Waterford United's tenacious grip on Premier Division status tightened last night when they came from behind to defeat Derry City at the RSC last night.

Derry took the lead from a penalty on 29 minutes. Alan Kearney handled and Paddy McCourt converted the spot kick.

Waterford equalised and took the lead in less than two minutes at the start of the second half. On 49 minutes Vinnie Sullivan scored at his third attempt; his first effort was parried by Pat Jennings, his second came back off the upright but he bundled the rebound to the net.

On 51 minutes Kearney swung in a free and Willie John Kiely whipped the ball to the net.

On the hour, Derry's Killian Brennan was sent off for a foul on Dave Warren.

The game had opened in a flurry of United activity with a shot from Kiely deflected for a corner after 15 seconds. Then, in the 11th minute Ed McCallion handled in the area but Sullivan's penalty was saved by Jennings.

Sullivan brought the best out of Jennings on 26 minutes but Derry should have gone two-up five minutes before half-time. Mark Farren rounded goalkeeper Dean Delaney but Robbie Hedderman blocked.

United's Alan Mulcahy was sent off on 90 minutes.

WATERFORD UNITED: Delaney, Flynn, Hedderman, Brosnan, Hayes, Warren, Scully, McCarthy, Sullivan (Grincell, 75 minutes), Kiely, Kearney (Mulcahy, 82 minutes).

DERRY CITY: Jennings, McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, Higgins, Brennan, McGlynn (McDaid, 71 minutes), Deery, Farren, McCafferty (Martyn, 63 minutes), McCourt.

Referee: Mark Gough (Limerick).