THE questionable signing of Linfield amateur Jeff McNamara on Tuesday worked the oracle for Eddie May's Dundalk as they all but secured their Premier Division status for next season with a resounding first leg win in their promotion/relegation play off with First Division Waterford United at Oriel Park last night.

Roared on by a crowd of 2,000, their best for some time, Dundalk were scarcely worth their 1-0 interval lead, but survived a gilt edged chance of an equaliser on 53 minutes to go on and tear a disappointing Waterford apart in the latter stages with McNamara helping himself to two well taken goals. Dundalk had to survive a few early scares before grinding their way into the game and taking their halftime lead.

That came on 42 minutes when Robbie Devereaux played Joe Gallen away down the right. Gallen's cross picked out Ray Campbell whose half hit shot from 20 yards bobbled under the left arm of John Grace and into his bottom left hand corner of the net.

Waterford remained well in the game until Darren Browne missed the proverbial sitter in the 61st minute and their confidence visibly sapped.

A minute later McNamara, a 23rd minute substitute for the injured Stephen Reynes, put Dundalk 2-0 up. David Hoey's cross from the left was helped on in turn by Brian Byrne and Gallen and McNamara lifted the ball over the advancing John Grace.

McNamara once more showed superb judgment as he ran from his own half to beat the Waterford offside trap on to Robbie Devereaux's through ball, keep his head and round Grace to slide the ball home.