Waterford slip into relegation play-off spot after defeat to Derry City
Waterford 1 Derry City 2
Derry City Michael Duffy celebrates scoring against Waterford at the RSC. Photo: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Waterford FC were left fuming after three second-half penalty shouts were waved away at the RSC in this defeat to Derry City, which saw the Blues slip into the relegation play-off spot.
The victory allowed the Candystripes to close the gap on league leaders Shamrock Rovers, who failed to officially seal the title following their 1-0 defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic.
The Blues were particularly aggrieved after they were not granted a penalty in the 69th minute following a push from Robbie Benson on Sam Glenfield.
Waterford broke the deadlock on 21 minutes when Ryan Burke hooked the ball forward, which saw Pádraig Amond touch the ball into the path of Tommy Lonergan. Derry cried for offside but the flag stayed down, before the striker powered an unstoppable effort past Brian Maher from an acute angle.
For all their dominance, the home side were pegged back level on 34 minutes when Hayden Cann played the ball down the right channel for Michael Duffy, who nutmegged Ronan Mansfield before squaring for Gavin Whyte to hammer home from close range.
It was a total gift that saw the Brandywell outfit strike the front on 41 minutes. Kacper Radkowski played a backpass straight to Adam O’Reilly, but the midfielder slipped, leaving Michael Duffy clear on goal. He drilled a low right-footed shot past the helpless Stephen McMullan.
The second half saw little in terms of chances, with the hosts frustrated referee Rob Hennessy turned down three penalty calls.
Waterford FC: McMullan; Horton, Radkowski (Coyle 75), Mansfield, Burke; Olayinka (Glenfield 68), McMenamy (Smith 81), White; Lonergan, Amond, Noonan.
Derry City: Maher; Boyce, Cann, Connolly, Stott, Fleming; Whyte (Frizzell 72), O’Reilly, Winchester (Dummigan 55), Benson; Duffy.
Referee: Rob Hennessy (Limerick).