Shelbourne hold on

For the second time in a week Waterford United failed to take advantage of a Shelbourne side reduced to 10 men. The only consolation for the Blues was that they at least earned a point from last night's game, the first to be televised live from the RFC.

There were no goals to celebrate but there was plenty of goal mouth action in what proved to be a much more entertaining game than the previous week's Tolka Park encounter.

Shelbourne should have scored twice in the first 12 minutes. Inside 60 seconds Declan Geoghegan and Owen Heary combined well to feed the waiting Pat Fenlon but his shot came back off the upright. Then Dessie Baker crossed from the right to the unmarked Neil Trebble but his header from eight yards was left and wide.

Waterford could well have taken the lead on 16 minutes but Sean Riordan's header from John Frost's excellent cross zipped over the bar. A minute later Barry Wood jinked his way past three Shelbourne defenders but goalkeeper Alan Gough managed to narrow the angle and parry the shot.

Two minutes before half-time Waterford had another let off when Joe Harkin headed off the line from a Tony McCarthy header following a Baker free.

There was an element of controversy eight minutes into the second half. Griffin crossed low and hard from the end line and United's new signing Steve Brown appeared to turn the ball over the line off the upright but it was whipped away by Declan Geoghegan and play continued.

Shelbourne were reduced to 10 men on 72 minutes when Damien Maher received his marching orders from referee, John Stacy for dragging down Wood as he broke clear for a goal.

Following a period of intense pressure Waterford did get the ball in the Shelbourne net on 80 minutes but Sean Riordan's effort did not count as a free out was awarded for a foul on Greg Costello.

Eight minutes from time the unmarked Gannon had a golden opportunity to secure the points for United but he headed over the bar from eight yards after connecting with a Griffin cross.

Waterford United: Devine, Smith, Frost, Reynolds, Riordan, McGrath, Gannon, Harkin, Wood, Brown, R Griffin.

Shelbourne: Gough, Costello, McCarthy, Maher, D Geoghegan, D Baker, Heary, Gifford, Fenlon, Trebble, S Geoghegan. Subs: D Fitzgerald for Gifford (half-time), Sheridan for S Geoghegan (66 mins), Campbell for Baker (74 mins).

Referee: J Stacy (Athlone)