Waterford United moved off the bottom of the table and climbed two places over Longford Town and their opponents Galway United, as a result of this vital 'six-pointer' victory at the RSC.
An under-strength Blues lost to Cobh Ramblers in the League Cup during the week but they stormed back in front of their own fans to record only their second win of the campaign but their third unbeaten league tie in succession.
Waterford took the lead in the 62nd minute when a Shane Harte throw-in on the right was headed on by David Breen and Vinnie Sullivan, with his back to the goal, swivelled and crashed an unstoppable shot high into the net.
Both sides should have opened their accounts in a fast flowing first half in which plenty of scoring opportunities were created.
Sullivan had a pop from inside the area after only 5 minutes that was blocked away by Reggi Nooitmeer while, on 17 minutes, former Blues player John Lester steered a 25-yard free inches wide of the Waterford upright.
A minute later, Paul McCarthy went down in the area as he attempted to round the Galway goalkeeper, Gary Rogers. No foul was given and, even though the ball fell kindly for Harte, he shot wide from 15 yards.
Midway through the half, Lester crossed from the right and Stephen O’Flynn let the ball run for Derek O’Brien who arrived like a train on the blind side but his effort went narrowly wide.
Two minutes later, a moment of uncertainty in the home defence gifted Barry Moran a one-on-one tussle with Dean Delaney but the goalkeeper did well to deflect the ball away to Kenny Browne who booted it to safety.
On the half-hour, Dave Warren unleashed a powerful snap-shot on the volley from 35 yards but the dipping ball veered wide of Galway’s near upright.
Waterford almost opened the scoring five minutes into the second-half when Sullivan vollied from an acute angle inside the area after Harte had dispossessed Shane Tracy on the right wing but the ball came back off the crossbar with the keeper beaten.
Play immediately swung to the opposite end where Barry Moran was put through by Ciaran Foley but, after successfully rounding Delaney, he wildly shot wide.
Six minutes before the end, Waterford should have gone two up but the closely marked Sullivan was unable to convert a golden opportunity created by Ray Scully and David Breen
