Shelbourne - 1 Waterford Utd - 0: Shelbourne extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division last night, a 66th-minute Jason Byrne strike proving enough to take the points at Tolka Park.
It was a nervy start for the visitors with some incisive passing from Shelbourne creating early chances for the league leaders.
The first of these came on three minutes after Ollie Cahill had played in Jason Byrne. But Ireland under-20 goalkeeper Dan Connor was quick off his line and saved with his feet as Byrne drilled in a low shot.
Shelbourne's best chance of the first period arrived on the half hour. Waterford found themselves on the back foot after Wes Hoolahan had played a ball out wide to Fitzpatrick, who fed a pass to Byrne. And the striker's header seemed destined for the far corner before Connor's good one-handed save.
Waterford were desperately unlucky not to take the lead shortly after the break when Murphy, having cut in from the right, saw his curled effort just clear the top of the crossbar.
Byrne, however, was not to be denied and after being played in by Alan Crawley, he rifled the ball past Connor from the right-hand side of the box to clinch the win.
SHELBOURNE: Williams; Heary, Harris, Rogers, D Crawley; Hoolahan, Crawford, S Byrne, Cahill; J Byrne, Fitzpatrick. Subs: A Crawley for Hoolahan (half time), McCarthy for Fitzpatrick (83 mins).
WATERFORD UNITED: Connor; Carey, Breen, Purcell, Frost; Clifford, Reynolds, Mulcahy, Sullivan; Murphy, Bruton. Subs: Waters for Bruton (70 mins), O Brien for Clifford (77 mins).
Referee: A Kelly (Cork)
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