Aviva heartbreak for Waterford FC after cup final defeat at the hands of Derry City
A dejected Waterford FC striker Tommy Lonergan at the final whistle after cup final defeat to Derry City.
Waterford FC’s quest to lift the FAI Cup for the first time since 1980 ended in heartbreak at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday as Derry City edged a fiercely contested final 1-0 before a crowd of 36,093.
A second-half strike from Darragh Burns ultimately settled the Club Orange FAI Cup Final, leaving Graham Coughlan’s side devastated after a spirited display in which they matched their opponents for long periods and felt they were denied two late penalty appeals.
The Blues can take immense pride from their efforts on the biggest stage. Backed by a sea of blue in the capital, they battled relentlessly until the final whistle, but Burns’ 69th-minute winner proved decisive.
Waterford made the brighter start and forced the first opportunity of the afternoon after nine minutes. Under pressure from Conan Noonan, Brandon Fleming conceded a corner, but Benny Couto’s delivery was headed wide by John Mahon at the back post.
Derry responded four minutes later when Michael Duffy cut in from the right and forced Stephen McMullan into the first save of the game.
The Blues came agonisingly close to taking the lead moments later. Jorgen Voilas won a free-kick on the right and Couto’s dipping effort saw Brian Maher tip the ball onto the crossbar before the dangerous was cleared.
Conan Noonan then tested Maher on 25 minutes after good approach play involving Mahon and Tommy Lonergan, but his effort lacked the power to seriously trouble the Derry goalkeeper.
At the opposite end, Ellis Chapman thought he had given Derry the lead on 29 minutes, only for the assistant referee’s flag to rule out the effort for offside.
Lonergan, the league’s Golden Boot winner, had Waterford’s best chance of the opening half on 33 minutes when he got on the end of a flicked throw from Couto, but he was unable to direct his header on target.
The Blues began the second half with real intent. Lonergan released Noonan down the left on 50 minutes, but Maher stood firm at his near post before Pádraig Amond saw a goal-bound effort blocked in a frantic spell of pressure.
Another opening arrived six minutes later when Lonergan met a Couto corner, but under pressure from Nick Twisk he headed over from close range.
Amond then turned provider, nodding the ball into the path of Couto, but the wing-back could not generate enough power with his header to beat Maher.
Having weathered that spell of pressure, Derry struck the decisive blow on 69 minutes.
Burns was afforded space just outside the penalty area and took full advantage, evading challenges from Couto and Evan McLaughlin before rifling a left-footed shot beyond McMullan and into the bottom corner.
It was a cruel setback for Waterford, who had been every bit the equals of their opponents up to that point.
The Blues refused to surrender. Noah Mawene, scorer of the semi-final winner against Bohemians, flashed a shot wide on 78 minutes after being picked out by McLaughlin.
Six minutes later, Couto delivered an inviting cross from the left and Lonergan rose highest, but his looping header drifted narrowly wide.
Waterford threw everything forward in the closing stages and felt aggrieved when two penalty appeals went unanswered in stoppage time. Mawene appeared to be brought down inside the area, while substitute Dean McMenamy also went to ground moments later, but referee Kevin O’Sullivan waved play on both occasions.
The final whistle soon followed, sparking celebrations among the Derry players and supporters.
For Waterford, there was only disappointment, but their players left the field knowing they had given everything in pursuit of a first FAI Cup triumph in 46 years.
Maher; Dummigan, Stott, McClean, Fleming; Twisk, O'Reilly; Burns (Dos Santos 77), Clarke (Boyce 85), Duffy; Chapman.
McMullan; Cann, Mahon, Long; Couto; Voilas (McMenamy 75), McLaughlin (Heeney 89), Mawene, Noonan; Lonergan, Amond.
Kevin O'Sullivan (Cork).
36,093.
