Patterson leaves classy Waterford in play-off control

Waterford issued a warning to their First Division play-off rivals after a display of Premier Division quality in Garryowen saw them overcome Treaty United in a wild affair.

Phoenix Patterson will grab the headlines after another scintillating display that's sure to have him on a number of Christmas lists, but this team as a collective appear the real deal.

In a way, this felt like a foregone conclusion before a ball was kicked – or so the season-long narratives would suggest.

Twenty points separated the sides, as did 42 goals in the goal difference column. Tommy Barrett will always be quick to remind you that Treaty United are effectively an amateur setup, while Waterford's backing is no secret.

Last week’s FAI Cup semi-finals also gave good insight. Waterford and Shelbourne felt like a toss-up despite the divisional disparity, while Treaty and Derry City was a David-versus-Goliath-type clash.

And yet, for all that form and logic can suggest, this play-off system has always been a leveller for sides.

That narrative held-up for all of five minutes.

The key difference between Treaty United and their full-time counterparts isn’t their football IQ – Jack Lynch probably outshines most in that regard – it’s the physical elements: pace and power.

And speaking of difference-makers: Phoenix Patterson.

Consistently hailed as the best player in the First Division by fairly much every manager in the competition, Patterson showed both pace and power to finish at a very tight angle past Jack Brady.

Yassine En-Neyah held the ball up beautifully before slipping a slide pass into the left-hand channel for the talisman to run on to. He took a heavy touch but he was still quick enough to get there before any red shirts and fire into the far corner.