Waterford and Shelbourne played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the RSC, with Sean Boyd going from hero to villain for Damien Duff's Reds.
Maleace Asamoah blasted the newly promoted hosts into an early lead in front of over 4,300 supporters, but Boyd came off the bench to nab an equaliser deep into the second half.
Minutes later he got his marching orders following a tangle with Grant Horton.
Keith Long's charges pushed for a dramatic winner but a draw was probably the right outcome in this hard-fought encounter.
A raucous atmosphere greeted the players as they walked out on a misty night at the RSC.
Niall O'Keeffe immediately set the tone for Waterford as he flung himself into a tackle two seconds after tip-off. With less than three minutes on the clock, they were one up.
New signing Asamoah picked up the ball just inside his own half and exhibited incredible pace to surge past JJ Lunney and lash in an effort that nicked off Tyreke Wilson before zipping past Conor Kearns.
It was a dream start for Long's men, who fed off the energy of the crowd to press and harry their opponents incessantly.
A physical battle from the off, Duff was forced into an early change when Shane Griffin hobbled off in the 13th minute to be replaced by Kameron Ledwidge.
Five minutes later, Shels were indebted to Kearns for pulling off a superb save to deny Padraig Amond, who had guided a firm header towards the left corner after a smashing Barry Baggley cross. Kearns displayed remarkable agility to tip the effort around the post.
Asamoah - on loan from Fleetwood Town - gave Shels headaches every time he had grass to run into. Ledwidge picked up a yellow card after sliding in on the 21-year-old English winger, who had galloped beyond him despite the Shelbourne man having a two-yard head start.
Shels were largely toothless in the first half, but Matty Smith did threaten ten minutes before the break, forcing Darragh Leahy into an excellent defensive block following a weaving run down the left.
One-nil down at half-time, Duff had lots to chew over.
They certainly looked livelier on the turnaround, with Liam Burt's influence growing as the Reds turned the screw.
Still, Waterford always had Asamoah as an effective out-ball, and he teed up the impressive Baggley to have a go from range just before the hour mark. Kearns dealt with the strike pretty comfortably.
Duff then made a triple change: in came Shane Farrell, Evan Caffrey and Will Jarvis for Mark Coyle, Lewis Temple and Wilson.
Thirteen minutes from time, they got their leveller. Jarvis's mazy run caused total panic in the Waterford defence, with a rushed clearance ricocheting into the path of another substitute, Sean Boyd, to slide home a calm finish.
It looked like that would set up a period of intense Shelbourne pressure, but in the 84th minute they were reduced to ten men. Boyd received a straight red after he appeared to aim an elbow at Horton.
As the fog thickened an eventful clash fizzled out.
It was a deserved point for Waterford, who showed evidence they may nick points off a few of the bigger guns on their own patch this year.
Waterford FC: Sam Sargeant, Darragh Power, Kacper Radkowski, Darragh Leahy, Ryan Burke (Grant Horton 61), Niall O'Keeffe, Barry Baggley (capt), Connor Parsons (Romeo Akachukwu 72), Robbie McCourt, Maleace Asamoah, Padraig Amond
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns, Sean Gannon, Lewis Temple (Evan Caffrey 61), Gavin Molloy, Shane Griffin (Kameron Ledwidge 13), Tyreke Wilson (Shane Farrell 61), Mark Coyle (capt, Will Jarvis 61)), JJ Lunney, John O'Sullivan, Matty Smith (Sean Boyd 68), Liam Burt
Referee: Kevin O' Sullivan
Atendance: 4,390
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