A glorious goal from man of the match, Ian Gilzean, finally turned a gripping FAI Cup first round replay in St Patrick's Athletic's favour as they went on to record a somewhat flattering win over a Waterford United side who never capitulated at Richmond Park last night.

There was precious little Waterford could have done about Gilzean's sublime goal on 66 minutes but their goalkeeper, Michael Devine, will know he all but killed off his side's challenge with an unforced error to gift St Patrick's their second goal soon afterwards.

"The final score was bit hard on us," said a disappointed Waterford player/manager, Tommy Lynch, afterwards. "We matched them for much of the game, but they are a first class outfit and you can't afford any slip ups against them."

Frenetic and fitful the first-half may have been but it provided precious little excitement.

Waterford stroked the ball around well and got it wide to Pat Sinnott and, particularly, Karl Gannon on the right to good effect.

Sinnott brought the first gasp of nerves from the St Patrick's following after 14 minutes when his long-range shot dipped just wide of Trevor Wood's left-hand upright.

St Patrick's survived another scare four minutes later when Gannon took the wrong option when shooting first time instead of running on past Colin Hawkins to put himself through on goal from John Frost's excellent through ball; the shot trickling well wide.

St Patrick's gradually began to assert their expected authority on the game. But they didn't carry it over into the second-half as it was Waterford who resumed to again take the game to their hosts.

St Patrick's then came into the game again and might have had the gift of the opening goal on 58 minutes when Devine allowed a cross from keith Doyle run through his legs, but Paul Osam was unable to take advantage.

The opening goal, when it came in the 66th minute, was worth waiting for. Robbie Devereaux, on the field just three minutes, crossed from the right to pick out Gilzean who flicked the ball with his right foot before swivelling and driving it past Devine with a spectacular left-foot half volley from 12 yards.

St Patrick's then punished a second error by Devine seven minutes later to seal their second round trip to Cobh Ramblers.

Devine, widely regarded as being responsible for allowing St Patrick's back into the match when Waterford had lead 2-0 in the first match, allowed a deep cross in from the left by Gormley to slip through his hands under no pressure at all and Martin Reilly duly punished the error to tap the loose ball into the unguarded net.

Devereaux hammered the final nail in Waterford's exit from the competition with St Patrick's third goal five minutes from time.

St Patrick's Athletic: Wood; Burke, Lynch, Hawkins, Long; Reilly, Morgan, Osam, Gormley; Gilzean, Molloy. Subs: Devereaux for Molloy (63 mins), Moody for Osam (85 mins), Keegan for Reilly (87 mins).

Waterford United: Devine; Power, Riordan, Barry, Frost; Gannon, Lacey, Lynch, Sinnott: Dully, Reid. Subs: Jordan for Frost (38 mins), Carr for Sinnott (74 mins), Reynolds for Lacey (83 mins).

Referee: H Byrne (Dublin).