Derry City 1 Waterford United 0: Derry City consolidated their third-place position in the Premier Division with a deserved victory over Waterford at the Brandywell last night.

And while the Munster side are currently awaiting a fee of £100,000 from Sunderland for their star striker, Daryl Murphy, his absence was noticeable.

Murphy, who failed to travel northwards due to his involvement in discussing personal terms with Mick McCarthy, appears to have played his last game for Alan Reynolds's side.

Waterford clearly struggled in the final third and Derry City took advantage having dominated the first-half exchanges.

Derry broke the deadlock after eight minutes when Seán Hargan rose to divert a Brian Cash free to the net giving Waterford goalkeeper Packie Holden no chance.

After the break the home side weathered an early Waterford storm but the closest the visitors came to restoring parity was a 51st-minute effort by Niall Andrews which was parried by goalkeeper David Forde.

Derry thought they had a penalty in the 65th minute when David Breen appeared to trip Alan Murphy as he burst into the penalty area. However, referee John Feighery would have none of it and waved play on.

DERRY CITY: Forde; McCallion, Hutton, Delaney, Hargan; Martyn, Doherty, Murphy; Cash, Beckett, Farren. Subs: McGlynn for Cash (61 mins), O'Flynn for Beckett (82 mins).

WATERFORD UNITED: Holden; Mulcahy, Purcell, Breen, Frost; Sullivan, Finn, Reynolds, Heffernan; Bruton, Andrews. Subs: Yelverton for Heffernan (63 mins), Watters for Bruton (63 mins), Grant for Finn (74 mins).

Referee: J Feighery (Dublin).