Title chasing Derry City clocked up their fifth successive win when they proved too strong and wily for hapless Waterford United at the RSC, winning 3-1.
Derry opened the scoring on 18 minutes when Peter Hutton launched a long, hopeful lob over the heads of the United defence.
Killian Brennan timed his run perfectly and, after taking the ball down on his chest, turned sharply goalwards before steering his effort past goalkeeper Packie Holden from six yards.
However, United held their nerve and, 13 minutes later, combined to create an excellent equaliser.
Darryl Kavanagh started the move in the middle of the field, the ball was touched on by Dave Mulcahy to Paul Crowley and he skilfully lifted his shot over the head of the advancing goalkeeper David Forde.
But, after working so hard to get back on level terms, United gifted the visitors a second goal three minutes before half time.
This time it was Barry Molloy who lofted a high ball over the static Blues defence and Mark Farren raced through the middle to chip into the net over Holden's head.
Derry went further ahead eight minutes into the second half when United's leaky defence was unhinged again.
The ball broke from a melee in the middle of the pitch and Ciaran Martyn pushed it forward for Farren who unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the area.
Holden rushed forward and managed to parry the ball but its momentum carried it across the goal-line.
Waterford United: Holden, Andrews, Finn, Mulcahy, Doherty, Purcell, Kavanagh (Lester, 83), Crowley (Grant, 68), Sullivan, Banville (Waters, 65), Heffernan.
Substitutes not used: McCarthy, Fyffe.
Derry City: Forde, Hutton, Delaney, Higgins (McLoughlin, 88), Martyn, Beckett, Brennan, McGlynn (Cash, 78), Molloy, Farren (Murphy, 82), McChrystal.
Substitutes not used: Jennings, O'Flynn.
Referee: Aidan O'Regan, Cork.
