Having won three of their first four league games, Waterford have now lost their last five as they succumbed to 2-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght, with the home side never under any serious threat.
Blues manager Keith Long opted for five at the back in order to try and nullify Rovers attack and once they went behind thanks to Aaron McEneff's second goal of the season on 32 minutes, the game was effectively over as a contest.
Waterford best the Hoops last May as they won for the first time ever in Tallaght Stadium, but a repeat never looked likely here and Rovers could have scored more but were twice denied by the woodwork.
Rovers started brightly and applied the early pressure, but were frustrated in the early stages by some resolute defending from the visitors, who looked particularly assured in defending set-pieces,
It took almost half an hour until Rovers really threatened Stephen McMullan's goal as Dylan Watts header from a Matt Healy cross looped over the crossbar.
Rovers started to ramp up the pressure and shortly after Graham Burke weaved his way along the visitors penalty area before getting his shot off, which was straight at McMullan.
The pressure finally told however as Rovers hit the front on 32 minutes when Josh Holohan’s cross from the left was headed home by McEneff for his second league goal of the season.
Rory Gaffney almost made it 2-0 in the 36th minute as he latched onto a long ball from Healy, but the angle was too tight for the Galway man and his shot hit the side netting.
Rovers started the second half in much the same way they finished the first. Two minutes after the restart Burke clipped the crossbar with his header from a Healy corner as Stephen Bradley's side kept up the pressure.
Just after the hour mark Burke was on the attack again. This time he forced a fingertip save from McMullan from close range as Rovers continued to pepper the Waterford defence.
It wasn’t until the 73rd minute that the Blues finally had a shot on target as a long range Dean McMenamy shot tested the hands of the returning Ed McGinty in the home goal.
At the other end, McMullan saw his poor clearance fall to Danny Grant, who spotting the keeper of his line lobbed it goalwards only to see his effort hit the post.
Rovers though made the points safe in the 84th minute when defender Lee Grace headed in a Jack Byrne free kick. McMullan did manage to get a hand to the ball, but not enough as it trickled over line, having clipped the post.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty; Daniel Cleary Roberto Lopez © lee Grace; Danny Grant (John O'Sullivan 75) Aaron McEniff Matt Healy (Victor Ozhiabvuna 87) Danny Watts (jack Byrne 75) Josh Houlihan ; Graham Burke (Danny Mandroiu 75) ; Rory Gaffney (Aaron Greene 63)
Waterford FC: Stephen McMullan; Navajo Bakboord Grant Horton Darragh Leahy Kacper Radkowski Ryan Burke ; Rowan McDonald (Maarten Roland Pouwels 92) Ben McCormack (Olujimi James Ayodele Olayinka 45) ; Dean McMenamy Samuel Glenfield (Trae Bailey Coyle 45); Padraig Almond ©
