Waterford FC 1 Shamrock Rovers 3

Three mistakes have cost Waterford FC at the RSC as Shamrock Rovers took all three points in an entertaining SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash at the RSC.

John Coleman had to plan without the loan-tied Conan Noonan but he had an able deputy in former Hoop Dean McMenamy. And the Blues got the perfect start with a goal inside ten minutes when Padraig Amond rose to meet a Ryan Burke cross and curled a powerful header beyond the helpless Ed McGinty.

McMullan made the first of two good saves on 23 minutes when Aaron Greene got behind the Blues defence and into a one on one with the keeper. But McMullan held his nerve and timed his move perfectly to deny the Rovers striker.

However, the sides were level two minutes later when Rovers used a quick throw in to catch the Blues and Rory Gaffney had an easy task to find the net.

And McMullan made another great save to deny Josh Honohan on 37 minutes as Shamrock Rovers tried to up the ante.

A bad injury to Kacper Radkowski seemed to unsettle the Blues but they were punished on 76 minutes when a poor clearance from McMullan ended at the feet of Michael Noonan and he slotted home from the top of the area.

Waterford continued to chase an equaliser into added time and were caught on the break when Graham Burke was put through by Honohan and he slotted the ball under McMullan to seal the win.

Waterford FC: S McMullan, R Burke, G Horton, J Olayinka (M Pouwels 90+4′), P Amond, D Leahy K White, K Radkowski (N Bakboord 60′), T Lonergan, S Glenfield, D McMenamy(R McDonald 60′)

Shamrock Rovers: E McGinty, J Honohan, A Matthews, R Lopes, L Grace, A Greene(C Barrett 87′), D Nugent(J O Sullivan 69′), G O Neill(M Healy 69′), R Gaffney (M Noonan 69′), C O Sullivan, J Byrne (G Burke 75′)

Referee: A O Dowd.