Noonan struck at 39'37'' to give Waterford the breakthrough, sending the home side into half-time with a 1-0 lead. It was the key first-half moment and put the pressure on Saint Patrick's Athletic FC, who had to chase the game for the remainder of the evening.
The visitors found their way back at the very end. Keena converted from the spot on 90 minutes to level the match at 1-1, denying Waterford a win that had been within touching distance for most of the second half. That late equaliser settled the result and reshaped the mood of the contest in an instant.
For Waterford, the score will feel like a missed opportunity after leading from the 40th minute until the closing stages. For Saint Patrick's Athletic FC, the late penalty salvaged a point from a difficult away trip. In the league table, Saint Patrick's remain second on 44 points after 26 matches, while Waterford sit ninth on 25 points. The summary was simple enough: Waterford struck first, but Saint Patrick's had the last word.