Shamrock Rovers 4 Waterford United 0: A rare night of dominance from Shamrock Rovers brought into question any early season title aspirations Waterford United may have had. The result is even more surprising considering Rovers tried a new formation due to a lack of proven strikers.
Liam Buckley's inventive, three-man attack of Mark Rutherford, Shane Robinson and Trevor Molloy worked a treat. Rutherford acted as an aerial target down the middle, which allowed his fellow strikers the latitude to roam across the defensive line and in turn prove very difficult to pick up. Molloy in particular was a constant menace.
Although at times niggly, it was by no means a dirty match, yet referee Paul Tuite still brandished seven yellow cards, five of which went to the home side.
Rovers took the lead when Keith O'Halloran curled a delightful free kick around the wall in the 26th minute after Paul Leahy had pulled down Mark O'Brien on the edge of the box.
They continued to press in the opening half, with Terry Palmer going close from a corner while Molloy forced Dan Connor into a save with a rasping 20 yard effort.
Rovers were dominant, but Waterford had their moments with Daryl Murphy and Vinny Sullivan both going close.
The killer blow came five minutes after the re-start when Molloy twisted and turned on the right before sending a low ball into Robinson at the near post.
Within eight minutes Robinson returned the favour for Molloy, only for David Breen to intervene and put the ball into his own net.
Rutherford got in on the act before the finish, with Molloy again providing the final delivery.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mooney, Croly, Gough, Palmer, Doyle, M O'Brien, O'Halloran, Caffrey, Rutherford, Molloy, Robinson.
WATERFORD UNITED: Connor, K O'Brien (Hayes, 81 mins), Breen, Purcell, Leahy, Sullivan, Reynolds, Mulcahy, Waters (Clifford 58, mins), Murphy, Bruton (Carey, 74 mins).
Referee: P Tuite (Dublin).
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