Premier Division round-up: Derry City defeat Waterford while Sligo Rovers pile misery on Drogheda United

Derry City winger Michael Duffy was on target against Waterford

Derry City winger Michael Duffy was on target against Waterford Credit: John-Paul McGinley (ETPhotos)

Derry City moved to within two points of league leaders Shelbourne with a 3-0 thumping of Waterford at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium. 

The Candystripes were held to a draw against Dundalk on Friday night - but they bounced back in the best way possible against the Blues. 

Ruaidhri Higgins’ side raced into a three-goal lead before the half-time break. 

And they did so with Michael Duffy, Mark Connolly and Patrick Hoban on target. 

But they will be sweating over the fitness of Patrick McEleney who was forced off with a suspected arm injury. The extent of the issue is not clear yet. 

Elsewhere, Sligo Rovers moved into sixth place with a 2-1 win over relegation battlers Drogheda United. 

The Bit O’Red are now 10 points clear of the Drogs and sit comfortably on 25 points after back-to-back Bank Holiday wins over Shelbourne and the Boynesiders. 

Matthew O’Brien’s first-half own goal handed John Russell’s side an early lead. 

Rovers then doubled their lead two minutes before the break when Connor Malley netted for the hosts. 



Jack Keaney’s second-half half strike proved to be little more than a consolation for Drogheda.

And at Richmond Park, Dundalk piled the misery on Stephen Kenny’s St Patrick’s Athletic with a 3-2 victory. 

The Lilywhites, with former Saints boss Jon Daly in charge of them, raced into a 3-0 lead as Jamie Gullan’s sublime free-kick allowed them to seize the initiative. 

Ryan O’Kane then doubled their lead after minutes when his effort from the edge of the box was fumbled by keeper Danny Rogers and creeped over the line. 

Gullan then scored again in the 22nd minute. 



But the Athletic recovered and scored twice before the break, with Chris Forrester’s penalty sparking a mini-revival. 

Jamie Lennon also thumped an effort into the back of the net on the stroke of half-time to reduce the deficit to the bare minimum. 

But that was all they could manage as Dundalk held on for a morale-boosting three points to move off bottom spot. 

About Andrew Dempsey

View Full Profile