EA relief for the Lilywhites

The best chance of the half came on 35 minutes when Steven Kinsella broke through on goal following an exchange with Kilduff only to pull his shot wide in the end.

Dundalk eventually found the breakthrough in the 57th minute. Having just switched to the right wing following Michael Duffy’s introduction two minutes earlier, on-loan Everton winger Kinsella teed up the opener when his cross picked out Ciaran Kilduff to head home.

That pair would have a big role to play in Dundalk’s second on 71 minutes when Kinsella’s cross from the right was knocked down by Kilduff for the inrushing Thomas Stewart to bundle home from close range.

Dundalk then ensured the win 11 minutes from the end when Duffy teed up Conor Clifford on the edge of the area with the midfielder rifling high to the net past Matthew Connor.

Alan Reynolds’ visitors were much better than the final scoreline suggested though. They frustrated Dundalk for long periods of the first half and went close to a breakthrough themselves with a couple of long range efforts.

A Derek Daly free on 23 minutes flashed just wide, as did a long range drive from Jack Lynch two minutes after the restart. Dundalk finally kicked in to gear though to claim a convincing win in the end. DUNDALK: Sava; Dalton (Duffy 55), Barrett, Vemmelund, Massey; Mountney, Shields (Hoare 80), Clifford, Kinsella (McGrath 83); Stewart; Kilduff.

WATERFORD: Connor; Lynch, Mulcahy, McClean, Daly; McEvoy (Comerford 64), Smith, Evans, O’Connor; McAlavey (Walsh 75); McDaid (O’Sullivan 64).

REFEREE: N Doyle (Dublin).