Waterford United - 0 Derry City - 1 Derry City took the field against Waterford United at the RSC yesterday fully aware they were facing into what was arguably one of the most important games in the club's history.
A win would guarantee a last chance of Premier Division survival via the play-offs but they knew anything else could condemn them to the obscurity of the lower division.
As it turned out, UCD took all three points against Longford Town so Derry needed the victory that was fashioned out of sheer guts and desperation and, on the run of play, was just about deserved.
Derry City's back four of Eddie McCallion, Peter Hutton, Paddy McLoughlin and Robert Hedderman were magnificent, calmly and doggedly holding the Waterford forwards at bay. Following a hectic period in which both sides had chances to score, Derry made the breakthrough on 20 minutes when Mark Farren crossed from the left and Ciarán Martyn side-footed the ball home from six yards.
Two minutes later, United goalkeeper Dan Connor had to react swiftly to stop the visitors going further ahead when Paddy McLoughlin shot low through a crowded goalmouth area.
Waterford almost took the lead after 11 minutes when Daryl Murphy rose highest in the Derry goalmouth to get his head to Kevin Waters's corner from the left but Eddie McCallion was perfectly placed to head off the line.
On 28 minutes United defender Ger McLoughlin played a loose ball across the area and Martyn pounced but Connor saved his rasping shot and also managed to smother Gareth McGlynn's effort from the rebound.
United came within a whisker of equalising on 34 minutes when Murphy's powerful header from a McLoughlin cross came back into play off the inside of the upright.
Ten minutes into the second half, Derry's Seán Hargan unleashed a blistering shot from 30 yards that screamed inches wide of the post but that was the last serious assault Derry mounted on the United goal.
However, despite much huffing and puffing by Waterford, they could not unhinge the Derry defence. Apart from a goalmouth scramble on 77 minutes and a Wayne Fitzgerald blockbuster that went inches wide three minutes later, Derry's goalkeeper Alan Gough did not have to deal with a shot on goal.
Waterford played the last nine minutes with 10 men after Fitzgerald was dismissed by referee Damien Hancock for a foul on Martyn.
WATERFORD UNITED: Connor; McLoughlin, Frost, Breen, Mulcahy, O'Brien, Fitzgerald, Clifford, Waters, Fenn, Murphy (Sullivan, 68 minutes). Substitutes not used: Leahy, Mallon, Hayes, Holden.
DERRY CITY: Gough, McCallion, Hargan, Hutton, McLoughlin, Doherty, Martyn, Hedderman, Beckett, Farren (Clery, 91 minutes), McGlynn (Deery, 86 minutes). Substitutes not used: Holt, Gill, Spears.
Referee: Damien Hancock (Dublin).
