Second-half goals from Padraig Amond and Kyle White saw Waterford FC move to the summit of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division as they won the first Munster derby of the season against Cork City at the RSC.
In front of the television cameras and 3,019 spectators, 20-year-old White struck for his second goal in as many games four minutes from time to give Keith Long’s side a deserved win over Cork’s ten men after Freddie Anderson’s second-half dismissal for two yellow cards.
Alex Nolan gave Tim Clancy’s side the dream start inside eight minutes when he made Kyle White dizzy with his twisting and turning out on the right after picking up a Darragh Crowley pass, and he cut inside to beat keeper Stephen McMullan with a fine left-footed effort high to the net.
The crossbar denied Waterford the equalising goal two minutes later when Conan Noonan swung in a left-wing corner that was headed clear by Seani Maguire into the path of Dean McMenamy on the top of the penalty area, but his first-time shot came crashing back off the woodwork.
Nolan should have doubled the lead for the visitors on 22 minutes when he raced onto a brilliant through ball from Harvey Skieters, who had replaced the injured Seani Maguire seconds earlier, but he dragged a shot wide of McMullan’s far post.
There was a half chance for the hosts from a set piece on the half-hour mark when Noonan sent over a left-wing free that was headed on by Padraig Amond for Tommy Lonergan, but the striker couldn’t direct his header on target.
The second-half was less than two minutes old when Waterford levelled. Conan Noonan pulled the ball back into the path of Rowan McDonald with a neat pass, and the midfielder sent the ball back into the area with purpose, and Padraig Amond was on hand to fire a first-time shot past a helpless Tein Troost.
Cork were reduced to ten men on 63 minutes when Tommy Lonergan burst through left of centre before been fouled by Freddie Anderson, and after he was cautioned in the first-half, the defender was sent off for a second yellow card by referee Damien MacGraith. Lonergan stood over the resulting free-kick that skimmed the head of Charlie Lyons before striking the top of the crossbar.
It took a stunning save from City keeper Troost to keep the sides level on 77 minutes when Rowan McDonald laid the ball for Kacper Radkowski, who let fly with a cracking 25-yard effort that was superbly tipped around the posts.
Conan Noonan had a chance to put the Blues in front on 85 minutes when he took a pass form Tommy Lonergan on the top of the penalty area, but his effort flashed over before the home side got their noses in front sixty seconds later.
A pin-point right-wing cross from Padraig Amond found the head of Lonergan, but after keeper Tein Troost made a quite stunning save, Kyle White was in the right place to hammer the loose ball to the net to send the home faithful ecstatic.
Waterford FC: McMullan; Bakboord, Radkowski, Boyle, Leahy, White; McDonald, McMenamy (Pouwels 74), Noonan; Lonergan, Amond.
Cork City: Troost; Lyons, Crowley, Couto; Nolan (Fitzpatrick 78), Nelson (Shipston 78), Bolger (Murray 46), Anderson; Maguire (Skieters 22), Dijksteel (Mbeng 64), Keating.
Referee: Damien MacGraith (Mayo).
