Waterford - 0 St Patrrick's Athletic - 1: Looking like a shadow of the sleek side which dominated Shamrock Rovers on Tuesday night, second-placed Waterford United never got into their stride against struggling St Patrick's Athletic at the RSC last night.
The game was scoreless at half-time, but the Saints were more confident and positive in the second period. Sharper and more penetrating, they broke the deadlock after only six minutes when two first-half substitutes combined to unhinge the hitherto solid Blues defence.
Paul Rose won possession out on the left wing and released man-of-the-match Aidan O'Keeffe, who set off on a storming, zig-zagging run at the United defence before unleashing a powerful, angled drive that soared high into the far corner of the net.
The first real chance for United had come in the 11th minute of the opening half when Darryl Murphy connected with a cross from the right by Mark Clifford but his looping header was inches wide of the far post.
Fifteen minutes after St Patrick's took the lead they almost went further ahead when Tony Bird fired off a snap shot from just inside the area but Dan Connor stretched to take down the ball with his fingertips.
WATERFORD UNITED: Connor; Mulcahy, Frost, Reynolds, Breen (Carey, 56 mins), Purcell, Clifford, Kennedy, Murphy (Banville, 89 mins), Sullivan (Bruton, 59 mins), Waters. Subs not used: Leahy, Hennessy.
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Adamson; El Khebir, Byrne, Ndo (O'Keeffe, 39 mins), Maguire, Foley, Osam, Fahey, Bird, Jones (Rose, 44 mins), Dunne. Subs not used: Casey, Clarke, Smith.
Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)
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