Devine worried with potential COVID-19 situation at Waterford

Macdara Ferris reports from Richmond Park

There were scheduled to be two mid-week Premier Division games this week. However, with a Waterford FC player displaying symptoms of COVID-19 on Monday, the Sligo Rovers v Waterford game was postponed, with the player to be coronavirus tested.

After Monday’s match between St. Patrick’s Athletic and Derry City, extratime.com asked Derry boss Declan Devine for his reaction to the situation that led to the postponement of the Waterford game. 

“Worrying. Worrying to say the least,” said Devine. “Hopefully there is good news to come out of Waterford (after the testing). Nobody wants to see something like that. We are all  very optimistic that we can finish the season. 

“Each club has a duty of care. We have to hope that every single player in this league is safe. Hopefully John Sheridan gets good news (on his player) and we can just resume.”

Subsequently news broke on Tuesday evening of a second player who is reporting COVID-19 symptoms.

Derry City were set on the way to their 2-0 win over St. Pats thanks to James Akintunde’s goal on debut – with Candystripes captain Conor McCormack securing all three points with a goal 18 minutes from time.

Akintunde missed Derry’s disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Sligo Rovers last Friday as he was still in quarantine. Devine is hoping to add three to four more players to his squad before they play league leaders Shamrock Rovers in a match Devine describes as “a huge test for us.”

Jake Dunwoody and Adam Hammill are currently quarantining and Devine is hoping that clubs in similar situations are following the quarantine protocols.



“I hope other teams are quarantining their players and it is a level playing field. I hope that everyone who is playing players can prove when they came into the country - we can.”

Monday’s win for Derry saw them jump above St. Pats in the table. “On Friday our performance was below par. Tonight we all had a point to prove. I was delighted that we came here and got the result with that performance. 

“We have to get our finger out and perform at that level more often. The players deserve huge credit. Nobody is celebrating, we are relieved. We beat St Pats who are a good side, with a good manager and have a good way of playing.”

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile