Derry City Captures FAI Cup on Late Darragh Burns Strike
A 69th-minute goal from the winger secured the club's seventh title in a match that required a water break due to red flares.
By Samir Doyle ·
Derry City claimed its seventh FAI Cup trophy on Sunday after Darragh Burns scored the only goal of the final in the 69th minute. The 24-year-old winger found the net at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin to defeat Waterford 1-0.
The match was a tactical battle that ended in a low-scoring affair. Waterford controlled significant possession through midfielders Noah Mawene and Evan McLaughlin. Their attacking threat was neutralized by a Derry defense anchored by Patrick McClean. McClean and Jamie Stott held firm against a Waterford forward line that had combined for 36 goals this season.
Waterford striker Tommy Lonergan and Podge Amond missed crucial chances. A late penalty claim by Lonergan was waved away by referee Kevin O’Sullivan. Derry captain Michael Duffy was held in check by Mawene, limiting his impact on the left flank. Goalkeeper Brian Maher, who has dealt with a wrist injury all season, made key saves, including a critical stop that kept the scoreline level until the late stages.
Burns, who returned to Derry from a second stint in England last July, broke the deadlock. He moved off the right wing to create space, easing past defenders Benny Couto and McLaughlin. He finished low past keeper Stephen McMullan. The goal ended a substitution plan for Derry manager Mark Connolly, who had prepared Kevin Dos Santos to replace Burns moments before the play began.
The final minutes were chaotic. Dublin Fire Brigade responded to a crowd surge after the goal. Red flares were thrown onto the pitch by Derry supporters, reducing visibility and forcing O’Sullivan to call for a water break. The weather and smoke added to the intensity of the closing minutes.
Patrick McClean, whose brother James also plays for Derry, led the defense throughout the match. He credited the team's resilience for the win. "Words mean nothing, it’s all about actions," McClean told RTÉ. "We have to take this and bounce into next season and challenge for the league."
Derry City will celebrate the victory at the Guildhall in Derry. The win caps a season that saw the club survive a difficult period before securing the domestic cup honor.
