Derry City spurned a glorious opportunity to climb back up the Premier Division table following this share of the spoils at the Brandywell on Tuesday.
Full credit goes to Waterford United, however, who used their physical presence to good effect to extend their unbeaten run to five matches.
For Derry, this will prove a very disappointing result as new caretaker boss Peter Hutton continues in search of his first victory since taking charge last week.
Derry can have no complaints despite their second half dominance and it was not until Gary Beckett entered the fray as a second half substitute, did they seriously threaten in what was a very scrappy encounter.
The first half proved particularly disappointing but it was the home side who opened the scoring in the tenth minute following a flowing move from defence to attack involving no less than five Derry City players.
And when Killian Brennan swung the ball into the danger area, striker Peter Hynes drove it home with his first touch to record his first goal since joining the ‘Candy Stripes’ from Newry City.
In fact, the same player should have doubled Derry’s lead nine minutes later when another teasing Brennan cross found Hynes in space but the striker failed to get his free header on target and a glorious chance was lost.
Waterford bounced back from a set-piece situation but from a Derry point of view it was a soft goal to concede.
Shane Harte delivered a free from the left into the danger area and the alert Robert Brosnan got the faintest of headers to divert the ball beyond the reach of keeper Pat Jennings.
After the break, the home side certainly bossed the ball but struggled in the final third.
Gareth McGlynn flashed an effort wide of the target in the 48th minute while the post came to Waterford’s rescue in the 69th minute when Ken Oman went close.
With 15 minutes remaining Kevin McHugh unleashed a vicious shot which keeper Dean Delaney did well to touch wide of the upright as Derry continued to press.
Derry City: Jennings; McCallion, Kelly, Oman, Rogers; McGlynn, (Farren, 75 minutes), Molloy, Higgins, Brennan; Hynes (Beckett 64 minutes) McHugh.
Waterford Utd: Delaney; Scully (Keely, 88 minutes), Breen (Hayes), Browne, Hedderman; Harte (Mulcahy 68 minutes), Warren, McCarthy, Kavanagh; Sullivan, Brosnan.
Referee: Mr. R. Winter (Wicklow)
