Watts and Noonan hit goals as Shamrock Rovers see off Waterford

Rovers made another efficient step forward in the bid to defend their Premier Division title

Dylan Watts gave Shamrock Rovers a first half lead against Waterford. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Waterford FC 0 Shamrock Rovers 2 (Watts 37, Noonan 84) 

Shamrock Rovers produced a composed and authoritative performance to see off Waterford 2-0 at the RSC in the Premier Division, underlining their status as title frontrunners.

Goals in either half from Dylan Watts and substitute Michael Noonan ensured Stephen Bradley’s side maintained their position at the summit, overcoming the absence of captain Pico Lopes with minimal fuss. While the scoreline suggested comfort, Waterford did create opportunities, but a lack of cutting edge proved decisive.

Rovers made a bright start and were nearly ahead inside four minutes. Adam Brennan surged down the left and delivered a teasing cross that found Jake Mulraney, whose deflected effort looked destined for the net until Stephen McMullan produced an excellent reaction save. The Waterford goalkeeper was called into action again moments later, denying Mulraney at his near post after Graham Burke punished a loose clearance.

Waterford responded positively and carved out chances of their own. Tommy Lonergan tested Ed McGinty after a clever Conan Noonan flick, while Hayden Cann forced a solid save from distance as the hosts began to gain a foothold.

Their best opportunity came on 32 minutes. Padraig Amond raced onto a knockdown and squared for Conan Noonan, but his well-struck effort against his former club was superbly turned around the post by McGinty. Minutes later, Dean McMenamy went close, firing narrowly over as Waterford pressed.

Those missed chances proved costly. On 37 minutes, Rovers struck with a clinical counterattack. Mulraney drove forward before releasing Brennan, whose precise cross picked out Dylan Watts unmarked, and the midfielder made no mistake with a composed header past McMullan.

Rovers nearly doubled their advantage before the break when Mulraney again created space and sent Brennan clean through, but McMullan stood tall to save with his legs and keep Waterford within touching distance.

The visitors controlled the second half without needing to overextend. Watts went close to a second soon after the restart, while John McGovern failed to hit the target from a promising position. A glaring chance arrived on 59 minutes when Mulraney’s excellent delivery found Brennan at the back post, but he somehow headed wide from close range.

Waterford’s threat diminished as the game wore on, though Cann did come close with a long-range strike that flashed inches wide. However, Rovers always looked the more likely side to score again.

They sealed the points in the 84th minute. Tunmise Sobowale fed Watts, who slipped a well-weighted pass down the right channel for Michael Noonan. The substitute cut inside and fired past McMullan at his near post to cap an assured display.

For Rovers, it was another efficient step forward in their title push. For Waterford, moments of promise were outweighed by missed chances, leaving them rooted at the wrong end of the table.

WATERFORD FC: McMullan; Houston (Faria 56), Cann, Long, Mahon, Couto; Johnson, McMenamy (Heeney 68), C Noonan (Coyle 68); Lonergan (Voilas 80), Amond.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: McGinty; Sobowale, Grace, Stevens; Mulraney (Matthews 75), Healy, Byrne (Malley 85), Brennan; Watts (O’Sullivan 85), Burke (Greene 70), McGovern (Noonan 70).

Referee: Oliver Moran (Dublin) 

Attendance: 2,472