Derry City easily saw off Waterford for the third time the season, but their victory was marred with Patrick McEleney's serious injury.
First-half goals from Michael Duffy, Mark Connolly and Pat Hoban sealed the points after just 30 minutes, but their feel good factor ended when McEleney was stretchered off with what looked like a possible season ending arm problem.
Just after the hour mark the City skipper fell awkwardly after clashing with Waterford's Gbemi Arubi on the half-way line and after an eight minute stoppage he was stretchered off and taken to hospital in an ambulance.
As for the game itself, City created a good opening after two minutes as Paul McMullan got to the byline before seeing his right wing centre find Will Patching, but the midfielder was unable to keep his header down.
Minutes later a defensive mistake by Shane McEleney let in Padraig Amond, but the striker's shot from 20 yards was tipped away by a diving Brian Maher.
Derry took the lead on 11 minutes in super fashion as Patching's pass released Ben Doherty down the left, his cut-back found Duffy, who made no mistake firing home past Sam Sargeant.
The Brandywell men added a second on 21 minutes as McMullan found Duffy inside the Waterford box, he turned the ball back to Patching and his right wing cross was headed home at the near post by an unmarked Mark Connolly.
The Foylesiders wrapped the points up nine minutes later as Pat Hoban blasted home his 10th goal of the season, after McMullan had picked him out on the edge of the box.
Maher was called into action when he easily gathered Connor Parsons' header, but the City keeper had the woodwork to thank a minute later on 40 minutes.
Parsons' curling strike from the left hand edge of the box, which had the Derry net-minder beaten, came crashing back off the post. The Munster men made a double change at the break with Kacper Radkowski and Arubi replacing Parsons and Christie Pattisson. On 55 minutes Hoban went close to firing home his second, but his left footed strike was kept out by Sargeant.
Meanwhile at the other end Maher got down low to his right to turn Amond's effort around the post. Maher had to make a smart save on 60 minutes as Darragh Power's well hit half-volley was well gathered by the Dubliner.
City suffered an injury blow just after the hour mark as McEleney fell awkwardly on his arm after Arubi's challenge and had to be stretchered off and replaced by Sadou Diallo, after a eight minute stoppage in the game.
After McEleney's substitution the game went flat, as neither side created much, however the home side will be happy to return to winning ways.
Derry City: Brian Maher, Cameron Dummigan, Shane McEleney, Mark Connolly, Ben Doherty; Patrick McEleney (Sadou Diallo 71), Adam O'Reilly (Ciaron Harkin 94), Will Patching (Daniel Kelly 71); Paul McMullan, Pat Hoban (Daniel Mullen 91), Michael Duffy (Ciaran Coll 91).
Waterford: Sam Sargeant, Darragh Power, Ryan Burke, NIall O'Keeffe (Robert McCourt 79), Grant Horton, Rowan McDonald (Kacper Skwierczynski 84), Ben McCormack (Dean McMenamy 79), Padraig Amond, Connor Parsons (Gbemi Arubi HT), Darragh Leahy, Christie Pattisson (Kacper Radkowski HT).
Referee: Mr Paul McLaughlin (Donegal).
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