Waterford bounced into Sunday’s Club Orange FAI Cup final with Derry City thanks to a 3-2 victory to beat Shelbourne 3-2 and secure their Premier Division status.
That would have been unlikely, with Drogheda United requiring an eight-goal swing to send them to a relegation play-off, but goals from Evan McLaughlin, Pádraig Among and Tommy Lonergan removed all uncertainty.
The Reds had threatened to spoil the party atmosphere among the visitors as they led through eight minutes thanks to a wonderstrike from captain Kerr McInroy.
Waterford turned the tables either side of the break as McLaughlin forced home from close range before Amond’s bullet header put the visitors in an unlikely lead.
Another terrific long range strike, this time from JJ Lunney, brought the sides even on the scoreboard as Shels looked to sign off their season on a high.
Lonergan was to have the final say with just three minutes remaining on the clock as he met sub Joe Ashton’s cross to nod home and finish as the Premier Division’s top scorer with 16.
A dull opening became frantic in the seventh minute as Seán Moore burst him away through the challenge of John Mahon, only to see his close-range effort averted by Stephen McMullan.
The Blues did not heed the lesson, however, and Shelbourne took the lead moments later through their captain and midfield general McInroy.
John Martin slipped in Kelly and Mahon looked to have done to fend off the winger, with the loose ball spinning for James Norris wide on the left. The left-back cut the ball back to the edge of the box for McInroy, who opened his body and arrowed home an unstoppable shot into the side netting to the keeper’s left.
McInroy celebrates the opening goal of the game at Tolka Park
Waterford very nearly made an immediate riposte in equally spectacular fashion as Lonergan nodded down for Conan Noonan, but his dipping volley was well-saved by Eddie Beach.
And Martin should have done better from the resulting counterattack as he latched onto Norris’ cross, unmarked, only to head straight at McMullan.
Moore missed a glorious chance to double the advantage as the Blues back three failed to deal with Evan Caffrey’s ball from the right, but he curled the ball around the post with the goal gaping.
And the home side were made to pay for their profligacy as Waterford levelled in unlikely fashion as a cross from Jorgen Voilas ended in a melée and McLaughlin stabbed home from two yards.
The Reds almost retook a deserved lead when Kelly cut back and curled the ball into the back stick, but Moore seemed to pull out with the goal at his mercy.
And they were caught napping six minutes into the second half as Blues took the lead thanks to the reliable head of Amond.
Benny Couto’s hopeful ball down the line was swept up to Lonergan and he swilled and turned to cross for his strike partner to beat Beach with the power of his header.
And they were inches from increasing their lead as Mahon met a Voilas cross with a flush diving header, drawing a wonderful full-length save from Welshman Beach.
Shels boss John Russell responded by introducing strikers Mipo Odubecko and Seán Boyd and going four up top, and it had the desired result.
They were back on level terms at the midway point in the second period as Moore linked up with John Henry Francis, who pulled back for Lunney to caress the ball into the bottom corner.
Boyd saw his name in lights moments later as Kelly dug out a deep cross from the right but the striker could not find the target with McMullan in no man’s land.
And the keeper was called into action as the closing stages drew near and got down well to bat away Odubeko’s 20-yard corner-bound drive.
Good work from subs Luke Heeney and Dean McMenamey led to an opportunity for Noah Mawene to curve an effort from the edge of the box but this one evaded the top corner.
But Lonergan made no mistake three minutes from home as he wriggled free at the back post to nod from home sub Joe Ashton’s cross.
Shelbourne: Eddie Beach; Evan Caffrey (Marco Untergrabner 39), Odhrán Casey, Kameron Ledwidge, James Norris; Kerr McInroy (Mipo Odubeko 62), JJ Lunney, Jack Henry-Francis; Seán Moore, Daniel Kelly, John Martin (Seán Boyd 62).
Waterford: Stephen McMullan; Jorgen Vollas (Joe Ashton 85), Hayden Cann, John Mahon, Kevin Long, Benny Couto; Noah Mawene (Goforth Amedu 90+1), Evan McLaughlin (Dean McMenamy 78), Conan Noonan; Pádraig Amond (Luke Heeney 78, Tommy Lonergan.
Referee: Aaron O’Dowd (Dublin).