League Report: Waterford 2 - 1 Derry City

Goals from Gavan Holohan and Dean O’Halloran ensured Waterford FC made a dream return to the SSE Airtricity Premier Division after a 2-1 win at home to Derry City at the RSC on Friday night.

The match almost didn’t go ahead after heavy rain on Friday afternoon. Referee Robert Hennessy gave the pitch every chance and a decision was finally made at 7.30pm after work by the RSC ground staff, officials and volunteers, the pitch was deemed playable.

Waterford had the better of the opening chances with Garry Comerford forcing Derry keeper Ger Doherty to palm away his in-swinging free-kick.

The Candystripes came into the game with Darren Cole firing over the crossbar before Armin Aganovic scored the opener on 19 minutes. Midfielder Aaron McEneff whipped in a left-wing free kick and it found the head of the unmarked Aganovic to make it 1-0.

Both sides had good spells after the opening goal, with Comerford again looking to trouble Derry but his free-kick sailed over Doherty’s crossbar.

The home side continued to come at Derry and levelled two minutes before half time. Rory Feely and Bastien Hery linked up well in the middle of the park before finding Gavan Holohan. He drove at goal from the right and struck a powerful drive under the body of Ger Doherty to level.

Akinade almost gave the Blues the lead seven minutes into the second half. Rory Feely found space for a right-wing cross which found the head of Akinade but his effort crashed back off the post.

And it was to be a fairy-tale return to the Premier Division for Waterford as they

scored the winning goal 13 minutes from time. A brilliant piece of skill from Stanley Aborah sent full-back Garry Comerford down the left side and he crossed for Dean O’Halloran to put the home side in the lead.

Waterford: Niall Corbet; Rory Feely, Kenny Browne, David Webster, Garry Comerford; Bastien Hery, Paul Keegan, Stanley Aborah (Dylan Barnett 80), Dean O’Halloran (Dean Walsh 90+2), Gavan Holohan; Izmahil Akinade.

Subs Not Used: Matthew Connor (gk), Derek Daly, Sander Puri, Faysel Kasmi, John Kavanagh.

Booked: Bastien Hery (44), Ismahil Akinade (63), Dean O'Halloran (90+1).

Derry City: Ger Doherty; Conor McDermott (Dapo Kayode 81), Armin Aganovic, Darren Cole, Ben Doherty; Jamie McDonagh (Ronan Curtis 55), Rory Hale (Nathan Boyle 85), Nicky Lowe, Aaron McEneff, Ronan Hale; Rory Patterson.

Subs Not Used: Eric Grimes (gk), Eoin Toal, Jamie McIntyre, Scot Whiteside.

Booked: Nicky Low (41), Armin Aganovic (65), Rory Hale (83).

Referee: Robert Hennessy

Attendance: 2,502

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Gavan Holohan