Waterford slip into relegation play-off spot after Derry defeat

Michael Duffy of Derry City celebrates at the final whistle. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Waterford 1 Derry City 2 

Waterford FC were fuming in the direction of referee Rob Hennessy at the end of their SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division clash with Derry City at the RSC as the Blues slipped into the relegation play-off spot on goal difference with the Candystripes closing the gap on league leaders Shamrock Rovers.

The Blues were left raging with three potential penalty calls that were waved away by the match official, with one of the three, a 69th-minute push from Robbie Benson on Sam Glenfield, being the clearest of them all, as replays suggested it was a foul.

Waterford broke the deadlock on 21 minutes when Ryan Burke hooked the ball forward, which saw Amond touch the ball into the path of Tommy Lonergan, and with Derry crying for offside, 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, who saw the midfielder slip, Michael Duffy clear on goal, and he drilled a low right-footed shot past the helpless Stephen McMullan.

The second half saw little in terms of chances, but the home side had three penalty calls turned down by referee Hennessy, the clearest of the trio coming on 69 minutes when Sam Glenfield was clearly pushed in the area, but the official was unmoved.

Meanwhile, Galway United breathed new life into their survival push with their biggest win of the season - against Bohemians. They now sit seventh, bettering both Sligo Rovers and Waterford on goal difference.

WATERFORD: 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).

Attendance: 2,243