The smiles were back on most of the faces around Richmond Park as the champions got back to winning ways. Eddie Gormley was restored to their midfield - though Paul Osam retained the captain's armband - and was instrumental in much of what they did in a first-half St Patrick's dominated.
Gormley might have scored but blazed over the top on 16 minutes having earlier provided the corner from which Marcus Hallows volleyed against a post.
Sloppy defending should have cost St Patrick's a goal on 31 minutes but Karl Gannon - whom Waterford insisted is not on the transfer list - headed straight at Trevor Wood when left totally unmarked from Dave Whittle's cross.
A burst of pressure right on the stroke of half-time brought its reward for St Patrick's. Devine spilled a shot from Gormley and Martin Russell was on hand to sidefoot home the loose ball.
St Patrick's Athletic: Wood; Callaghan, Lynch, Hawkins; Donnelly, Gormley, Osam, Russell, Doyle; Hallows, Molloy. Subs: McNevin for Hallows (66 mins), Byrne for Doyle (72 mins), Harte for Russell (78 mins).
Waterford United: Devine; Riordan, Smith, T McGrath; Whittle, Kirby, D. McGrath, Stirling, Hyslop; Gannon, Griffin. Subs: Iorfa for Hyslop (66 mins.).
Referee: A O'Regan (Cork).
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