Darragh Burns lights up Aviva as Derry City win seventh FAI Cup

DARRAGH Burns lit up the 2026 FAI Cup Final with a stunning winning goal as Derry City clinched the trophy for a seventh time in front of

36,093 supporters at the Aviva Stadium.

The former Grimsby Town winger arrived midseason as one of Mark Connolly's first signings as Director of Football and repaid the interim manager with a decisive strike on 69 minutes.

It was the second win in five years in what was the club's 13th appearance at the Blue Riband event.

Waterford sought their first win since 1980 and created chances; Brian Maher forced into action several times as the Blues' set plays proved a nuisance.

Burns, who won the cup with St Pats before moving to England, proved the matchwinner but it was a hard fought encounter by Connolly's troops who found solace after a tumultuous season.

Connolly will vacate the managerial post but he certainly left his mark on the club, which had been flirting with a relegation play-off battle.

This win was his ninth from 14 games in charge in all competitions and the most important of them all in a remarkable turnaround as the Candy Stripes ensured their place in next year's Europa League.

A 'Connolly in head - cup in hand' banner was unfurled by the Derry Ultras in the North Stand at the final whistle. And the Monaghan man, who joins Felix Healy and Ruaidhri Higgins as a small group of men who have won the Cup as both player and manager for the Brandywell outfit, can now focus on building for next year with a busy transfer window expected.

Connolly had some big calls to make ahead of this final. The big question regarding Derry's team selection leading into the showpiece was who would get the nod to play in goals.

Maher reclaimed his No.1 spot making his third cup final appearance in five years for the Candy Stripes and just his 10th start of 2026.

That was the only change from the team that won the semi-final against Galway at Eamonn Deacy Park as Tom Norcott dropped to the bench.

For Waterford, there was a sprinkling of ex-Derry players in the squad with Derry man Evan McLaughlin playing is second cup final in two years after defeat for Cork City last season. Hayden Cann also started in the Waterford defence while former Derry keeper Arlo Doherty was on the bench.

It wasn’t the goalfest many expected and it was a cagey opening to the contest but from early on Waterford were applying pressure from setplays.

Brandon Fleming miscontrolled as he attempted to shepherd the ball back and conceded the first corner of the match on nine minutes.

The dangerous Couto whipped in a cross into a packed six yard box and the ball came off Stott's head and went narrowly wide, giving Derry a reprieve when a goal kick was awarded.

Derry's first shot on target arrived on 13 minutes of the contest. Darragh Burns ran at two Waterford defenders on the right side of the penalty box before cutting it back to Duffy in space. The winger ran towards goal before firing a left footed shot which was gathered cleanly by McMullan.

As expected the Blues were wreaking havoc with set-piece specialist Couto's deliveries. His free-kick from just outside the penalty area was goalbound and Maher flicked it onto his crossbar.

It was the closest either side had come to breaking the deadlock during a scrappy opening 20 minutes.

Maher saved once again on 26 minutes when Conan Noonan was played into space on the edge of the box after a fortuitous deflection but his tame effort was gathered cleanly by the Derry keeper.

Duffy put the ball in the net on 29 minutes but it was chalked off. The officials ruled Chapman was offside when Duffy's initial shot deflected into his path. The midfielder cut it back to Duffy whose shot deflected into the back of the Waterford net.

A long throw-in from Waterford was flicked on by Mahon and Lonergan's header went wide of the target on 34 minutes.

Duffy skipped away from Cann on the left flank, cut inside and attempted a 25 yard strike which sailed over as the teams went in at the break deadlocked.

Waterford attacked toward the south stand which housed the majority of their support, in the second half and started brightly.

Nick Twisk was shown a clean set of heels by Conan Noonan, who made his way past the Dutchman and into the penalty area but his shot was beaten away by Maher at the near post for another corner.

From Couto's corner Maher came flapping and breathed a sigh of relief when Lonergan's backward header went wide of the far post.

Derry broke the deadlock on 69 minutes when Burns stepped inside Couto on the edge of the box and fired low through the legs of McLaughlin and into the bottom corner of the net as the City fans behind the goal erupted.

Waterford came close to an equaliser with six minutes to go when Couto's cross was met by a looping header from Lonergan which sailed narrowly off target.

There was three minutes additional time signalled by the fourth official and Waterford won a corner kick. There was a scramble in the box but Derry eventually cleared.

Duffy eased the pressure with a galloping run deep into the Waterford half on the break before he was brought down by Noah Mawene.

The final whistle went and Derry players sank to their knees as over 20,000 Derry supporters celebrated a much needed cup triumph that could be the launchpad for something bigger next year.

Derry City: Maher: Dummigan, Stott, McClean, Fleming; Burns (Dos Santos 77), Twisk, O'Reilly, Duffy; Chapman, Clarke (Boyce 85).

Waterford: McMullan; Couto, Mahon, Cann, Long, Mawene, McLaughlin (Heeney 89), Noonan, Voilas (McMenamy 75), Amond, Lonergan.

Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan (Cork)

Man of the Match: Patrick McClean.