Shamrock Rovers went back top of the League of Ireland Premier Division courtesy of a hard fought 1-0 win against a game Waterford FC, who remain rooted to the bottom of the table
The Blues are still without a win this season, but they caused the home side problems on a number of occasions and it would not have been an injustice had they snatched a point.
Rovers shaded it but Waterford had at least three gilt-edged chances to score themselves - two from former Hoops player Padraig Almond - only to be denied on both occasions by home keeper Ed McGinty.
The sides were meeting for the second time this season after a 1-1 draw at the RSC last month, as Rovers welcomed back influential midfielder Matt Healy from injury, having missed the last two games, including the defeat to Derry City last week in one of three changes
The Blues also made three alterations from their late draw against Galway United with Dean McMenamy, Conan Noonan and Evan McLoughlin all starting.
After early Rovers' possession in the Waterford half, Adam Brennan showed great skill to nutmeg Dean McMenamy, before shooting just over the crossbar from the edge of the area.
At the other end a mistake by Tunmise Sobowale let in the Blues captain Almond, who had put his side a goal up when the teams met at the RSC last month, only to be denied on this occasion, one handed, by McGinty with Pico Lopes completing the clearance in the 10th minute.
But Rovers were patient and hit the front in the 25th minute as Healy found Enda Stevens out on the left, and his cross was steered into the net by the side foot of Graham Burke.
It was Burke's fifth goal in the last six games.
Burke almost got a second four minutes later when his close in effort was saved, then spilled by Arlo Doherty in the away goal, who was thankful that Jordan Houston was alert to clear the loose ball.
Rovers forced their first corner in the 36th minute as Burke set up Michael Noonan in the area, only for the teenage striker to be denied, point blank by Doherty who turned the shot around the post.
Noonan went even closer four minutes before the break as his close-range effort deflected off defender Hayden Cann before hitting the post.
Ten minutes after the break Almond had an opportunity to equalise following a sumptuous ball over the top of the Hoops defence by Cann which was brilliantly controlled by the striker but, one on one, Almond was again denied, this time by the outstretched legs of McGinty.
Indeed, Jon Daly’s side blew another great chance in the 73rd minute, when having won the ball back in the Rovers half, Evan McLoughlin could only blaze over from the edge of the area when a ball to the unmarked sub Sam Glenfield, in acres of space, could have brought greater reward.
Rovers survived one late Blues chance as McGinty denied sub Jordan Faria in added time.
Shamrock Rovers: Ed McGinty, Tunmise Sobowale, Roberto Lopes © (Lee Grace 68), Enda Stevens; Jake Mulraney (Adam Mathrews 63), Matt Healy, Graham Burke (Aaron Greene 67), Jack Byrne (Dylan Watts 63) Victor Ozhianvuna; Adam Brennan (Maleace Asamoah 67), Michael Noonan.
Waterford FC: Arlo Doherty; Hayden Cann, Kevin Long, John Mahon; Evan McLoughlin, Conan Noonan, Dean McMenamy (Tommy Lonergan 83), Bernardo Peixtto Couto, Jordan Houston (Jordan McKenzie Faria 83); Padraig Amond © (Samual Glenfield 71), Conor Carty (Jorgan Voilas 71).
Referee: Lucas Keating Att 4433.
