Three penalties and a red card saw Shamrock Rovers rescued a point at the RSC and almost nab a surprise victory with an 88th minute penalty. Liam Buckley’s visitors were three-down by the hour mark before mounting their challenge for the spoils.
It had been eighteen league games since Alan Reilly’s name was on the Waterford score sheet but it was the midfielder who put United in front after just seven minutes. That lead was doubled soon after as former Tottenham striker Neal Fenn struck home from eighteen yards out past keeper Barry Ryan. Rovers, who welcomed back James Keddy, Trevor Croly and Keith Doyle from suspension, were dealt a further blow after 61 minutes as Keddy was adjudged to have handled the ball in the Rovers’ penalty area by Cork referee Alan Kelly.
Midfielder Reilly stepped up to plant the spot kick wide of Ryan’s dive for Waterford’s third of the night and his sixth goal of the season. Rovers’ comeback was instant however with striker Trevor Molloy, who notched a brace of goals at Longford on Monday, hit home a 62nd minute penalty to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
The returning Keith Doyle crossed for onrushing captain Terry Palmer to head Rovers’ second with twelve minutes remaining as they began to command possession.
Waterford's Wayne Fitzgerald walked for his second booking as the home side looked likely to crumble.
Substitute striker Glen Fitzpatrick amazingly headed home at the far post just four minutes later to draw the sides level at 3-3 before the unfortunate Molloy saw his potential match winner, an 87th minute penalty, saved by stand-in Waterford stopper Pat Holden, deputising for Irish U21 international Dan Connor.
Four-and-a-half minutes of injury time couldn’t separate the sides as Rovers’ claimed their first point off Waterford, who had beaten Buckley’s men on two previous occasions. The draw sees Rovers move above Longford in the table.