Evan McLaughlin and Matthew Murray were Cork City's goalscoring heroes against Waterford as they deservedly beat the Blues 2-0 at Turner’s Cross.
McLaughlin volleyed home two minutes into added time at the end of the first half and Murray netted on 54 minutes to give the Leesiders all three points in this Munster derby.
City also had two goals from Murray and Seani Maguire disallowed for offside before McLaughlin’s intervention as he drove home Murray’s cross past a despairing Stephen McMullan in the visitors’ goal.
A minute's applause was held in memory of the late Ollie Horgan before kick-off.
An interested spectator was Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson whose side meet Hungary in their opening World Cup qualifier in Dublin next weekend.
City made no changes despite a 3-0 away league defeat to Bohemians last week while the Blues made three switches with Kacper Radkowski, Joshua Miles and Jesse Dempsey in for Grant Horton, Jordan Rossiter and Ronan Mansfield.
Cork came into tis one with one defeat in their last four but the darker scenario is that Ger Nash’s side chalked up a mere three league wins in 28 games.
Cork had the ball in the Blues net inside two minutes when Murray netted but the goal was ruled out for offside against the City teenager.
At the other end, Conor Brann dived to save a low drive from Joshua Miles after 12 minutes and we had to wait until midway through the first half for the next piece of excitement when McLaughlin’s free-kick was deflected over off the defensive wall.
Cork were forced into a change after 26 minutes when Alex Nolan replaced the injured Josh Fitzpatrick in attack.
Seani Maguire had the ball in the net again on 43 minutes but he too was whistled up for offside.
Waterford skipper and top scorer Padraig Amond went close with an effort that forced Brann into an excellent diving save at the Shed End.
However it was McLaughlin who made the breakthrough for the hosts in first-half injury time, rifling home a lovely left-footed volley on the stroke of half-time.
Cork City were impressively composed on the turnaround.
They kept Waterford at arm's length for the most part, while continuing to pose a threat themselves.
In the 54th minute, they doubled their lead. Waterford got caught playing out from the back, as Sam Glenfield's blind pass bobbled straight into Murray's path. He made no mistake, steering a low finish past Stephen McMullan.
Waterford huffed and puffed but they couldn't find their way back into a contest that Cork City really had to win to have any hope of avoiding finishing bottom of the table.
They closed it out, and are now seven points off Sligo Rovers who've a game in hand. The Bit O'Red host Bohemians tomorrow night.
Cork City: Brann; Crowley, Anderson, Feely, Kiernan; McLaughlin (Lyons 78), Kamara; Nelson; M Murray (S Murray 56), Fitzpatrick (Nolan 26); Maguire (capt)
Waterford: McMullan; Miles (Bailey Coyle 63), Radkowski, Burke, McDonald; Glenfield (Rossiter 63), Olayinka; Dempsey (Horton 84), Faal, Noonan; Amond (capt)
Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan)
Attendance: 2,560
