Goals from Maxim Kouogun and Walter Figueira secured all three points as the Blues came from behind to beat Cork City 2-1.
The Blues could have scored with their first attack on four minutes when Kevin Lynch sent over a cross from the left that saw Shane Duggan and John Kavanagh combine on the right-side of the area, but the former dragged a right-footed shot wide of the far post from 12 yards.
Dan Casey had a chance to put the hosts in front on 12 minutes when the centre back peeled off his marker to meet a cross from Josh Honohan, but his header just went inches over Matt Connor’s crossbar.
Dean O’Halloran went close for the Blues at the other end when Walter Figueira won a corner that saw Duggan whip in a great delivery to the back post where George Poynton knocked the ball down for the former Fulham man, but his shot was deflected wide.
After coming into the Cork starting team in place of regular keeper Mark McNulty, Tadhg Ryan showed his class when making a good save to deny visitors the lead on 22 minutes when JJ Lunney released Figueira down the right, but his cracking shot was tipped around the posts.
It was the home side that broke the deadlock three minutes later when Eoghan Stokes had a goalbound shot blocked out for a corner; that was taken quick for Daire O’Connor pick up the ball 20-yards and he arrowed a shot that found the net with the aid of the crossbar as Cork lead at half-time.
Blues keeper Matthew Connor made two superb saves in the space of a minute to keep his side in the game on 55 minutes. Karl Sheppard sent in an excellent right-wing cross that picked out Mark O’Sullivan, but his powerful header was tipped over before O’Sullivan got on the end of the resulting Shane Griffin corner that somehow the netminder managed to keep out.
The hosts could have doubled their lead on 66 minutes when Sheppard took a pass from Eoghan Stokes before firing a ball across goal that went under the arm of keeper Connor, but Rory Feely was on hand to clear the ball out for a comer.
A mix up between Feely and Maxi Kouogun that gifted Eoghan Stokes a chance soon afterwards, but he was denied by a fine Connor save before the Blues went close on 73 minutes when Cory Galvin brought a fine save out of Tadhg Ryan.
Karl Sheppard was just inches wide with a free header after a Stokes delivery into the area two minutes later before Michael O’Connor brought a great save out of Ryan on 80 minutes when he let fly from 25-yards after taken a Poynton pass, but his effort was turned around the posts.
The Blues did grab an all-important equalising goal two minutes later when Shane Duggan found some space for himself out on the right before crossing into the six-yard box where Maxi Kouogun was on hand to power a close-range header past Tadhg Ryan.
And with fourth official Graham Kelly indicating three added minutes, the Blues weren’t just happy with a point as they pushed for a winning goal and it duly arrived. Michael O’Connor was the man that set up Georgie Poynton on the right-side of the area and he showed great vision to spot the unmarked Walter Figueira, who finished into the back of the net to send the Waterford fans at the St Anne’s end of Turners Cross in wild celebrations as the Blues struck for another injury time winner for the second time this season against their Munster rivals.
Cork City: Tadhg Ryan, Josh Honohan, Conor McCarthy, Dan Casey, Shane Griffin, Conor McCormack, Eoghan Stokes, Garry Buckley, Daire O’Connor (Darragh Crowley 55), Karl Sheppard, Mark O’Sullivan (Beineon O’Brien Whitmarsh 82)
Waterford FC: Matthew Connor, John Kavanagh (Maxi Kouogun 19), Kenny Browne, Rory Feely, Kevin Lynch, Shane Duggan, Sam Bone (Michael O’Connor 46), JJ Lunney, Georgie Poynton, Dean O’Halloran (Cory Galvin 58), Walter Figueira
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
