Magnificent seven for Derry as Burns sinks Waterford

Derry City further enhanced their reputation as cup specialists with a 1-0 victory over Waterford in the Club Orange Men's FAI Cup final this afternoon at Aviva Stadium.

Darragh Burns got the only goal of the game with a fine strike from the edge of the box midway through the second half to secure a seventh cup triumph for the Candystripes in their history.

For the Blues, it's another defeat in the decider, 22 years after their last one, with their 46-year wait for a victory set to go on for another season, at least.

A crowd of 36,093 paid in to watch a stop-start decider, which the Blues shaded for a good chunk of the middle of the game, but Derry showed that little bit of ruthlessness to get over the line.

While the Ulstermen had finished two places higher in the League of Ireland, Waterford had been in better form coming into the game, having also recorded a more recent victory in clashes between the sides.

But it's Derry who will be heading for Europe next summer, not before the celebrations kick into gear this evening; their league disappointment and the James McClean saga now long behind them.

70 mins: DER 1-0 WAT Darragh Burns breaks the deadlock with a devastating finish from outside the box just before he was about to be subbed off for Kevin Dos Santos. 📺@rte2 @rteplayer 📱Live blog https://t.co/Jp0XIAlC8Q @rtenews app 📻 @rteradio1 https://t.co/gdfcexyZVW

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 8, 2026

The atmosphere was only quietened before kick off as those in attendance remembered the English family, of whom five were killed in a recent arson attack in the city.

The opening quarter of an hour was frantic, with neither side able to impose themselves on the game.

The first chance, of note, fell to Michael Duffy in the 13th minute, as he tried his luck from just outside the box. Stephen McMullan got down low to his left to make the relatively comfortable save.

At the other end, Benny Couto very nearly put Waterford ahead on 15 minutes. He whipped in a ball from a free kick out right, with Brian Maher thankful to see it come back off the crossbar. The Derry keeper misjudged the flight of the ball and could only help it onto the woodwork

A Derry breakaway a short while later saw Michael Duffy attempt to pick out Darragh Burns with a ball across the edge of the box, but Couto was in the right place at the right time to cut it out.

It was an end to end game, with the next chance falling Waterford's way.

It looked as if the Candystripes defence had cut out a ball into the box from Conan Noonan, but it sat up for the former Shamrock Rovers man. Noonan went for the right corner, but it was too close to Maher.

James Clarke had the ball in the net a short while later, latching onto the end of a ball across the box from Duffy, but an offside call against Ellis Chapman in the build up saw it chalked off. Replays suggested the call was the correct one, just about.

28mins: DER 0-0 WAT The ball is in the Waterford net courtesy of James Clarke, but the flag had already gone up. Derry fans' celebrations are cut short by a marginal offside call. 📺@rte2 @rteplayer 📱Live blog https://t.co/Jp0XIAlC8Q @rtenews app 📻 @rteradio1 https://t.co/WJxB6dCQ0F

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 8, 2026

Waterford were the stronger team as the game approached half time, and Lonergan might have done better as a long throw bounced in the Derry box, but the Meath man could only head over the bar.

A short while later, Evan McLaughlin tried to pick out Pádraig Amond, but the Derry cover got in to sniff out the danger.

These teams had produced 20 goals in their four league meetings this season, but they headed in for their cup of tea with the game scoreless.

The second half began as the fist half had ended with Waterford on top.

McLaughlin and Amond both saw efforts from the edge of the box blocked down, with Noonan forcing Maher into a save after beating Cameron Dummigan out left.

More Waterford pressure gave Couto a chance, as Amond headed McLaughlin's header into his path, but the Portuguese couldn't get any power on his effort.

With both teams looking slightly short of ideas, Burns took the game by the scruff of the neck.

He ran at the Waterford defence before cutting back and swinging a powerful strike into the right corner.

FT: DER 1-0 WAT The last roll of the dice for the Blues, but Derry City claim their seventh FAI Cup with a 1-0 win at Aviva Stadium. 📺@rte2 @rteplayer 📱Live blog https://t.co/Jp0XIAlC8Q @rtenews app 📻 @rteradio1 #faicupfinal #derrycity #rtesoccer https://t.co/3DQHMQ1d7h

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 8, 2026

The goal gave the Candystripes confidence and Chapman might have had a second, but Brandon Fleming's cross towards him just had too much pace.

Waterford knew they needed to score but their earlier efforts seemed to be catching up with them in those closing stages. Noah Mawene flashed a shot wide from 20 yards, while Tommy Lonergan's header looped wide of Maher's left post.

A couple of calls for Waterford penalties in added time - both involving Mawene - fell on deaf ears, with the noise all coming from the Derry end at the full time whistle.

Derry City: Brian Maher; Cameron Dummigan, Jamie Stott, Patrick McClean, Brandon Fleming, Nick Twisk, Adam O'Reilly, Ellis Chapman, Darragh Burns (Kevin dos Santos 77), James Clarke (Liam Boyce 85), Michael Duffy.

Yellow cards: Dummigan 86.

Waterford: Stephen McMullan; John Mahon, Kevin Long, Hayden Cann, Jorgen Voilas (Dean McMenamy 75), Benny Couto, Evan McLaughlin (Luke Heaney 89), Noah Mawene, Conan Noonan, Tommy Lonergan, Pádraig Amond.

Yellow cards: Long 49, Mawene 90+2.

Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan

Attendance: 36,093