Waterford United knocked First Division leaders UCD off top spot on goal difference by coming from behind to hammer fellow title
contenders Sporting Fingal at Morton Stadium.
The Blues came into the clash beaming after dumping Shamrock Rovers out of the EA Sports Cup on Tuesday but were soon on the back foot as it took just 36 seconds for Eamon Zayed to give Fingal the lead with a tap-in from Conan Byrne’s low cross.
It was a dream start for Fingal, who knew victory would leapfrog them above their opponents into second place, but that was as good as it got for the Dubliners.
Willie-John Kiely got between the two centre-backs and unleashed a dipping volley which brought the equaliser on 15 minutes.
Kiely was again involved for Waterford’s second goal after 32 minutes, crossing for Kevin Waters who lofted the ball back across goal for Graham Cummins to out-jump the defence and head home.
Fingal failed to find the desired response in the second half to rescue the game and aside from Ross Gaynor’s header that went off-target, they failed to muster much in front of goal.
Instead, it was Waterford whose attacking threat was more potent and they killed the game off with two further goals six minutes apart midway through the half.
Defender Kenny Browne got forward to connect with a low delivery by Seamus Long to make it 3-1 on 71 minutes before Kiely capitalised on mix-up between John Frost and goalkeeper Darren Quigley to grab his second.
The only low-point for the new league leaders arrived eleven minutes from time when Seamus Long was dismissed for a professional foul on Eamon Zayed but they were otherwise delighted with the outcome, which puts them on course promotion.
Sporting Fingal (4-3-3): Quigley; James (Boyd 78), Gannon, Whelan, Frost; Kirby, McFaul, Williams; C. Byrne (Fitzgerald 72), Gaynor, Zayed.
Waterford United (4-4-2): Devine; Long, Murray, Browne, Carey; McCarthy (Woodgate 80), Waters, Fitzgerald, Kearney; Cummins (Grincell 88), Kiely.
Ref: P Tuite (Dublin).
