Darragh Burns scored his first Derry City goal in the FAI Cup final, earning a 1-0 win over Waterford in Dublin. Derry lifted the trophy for the seventh time after finishing fifth in the league. Captain Michael Duffy celebrated his fifth success in the competition, while the victory also secured European qualification.
Derry City beat Waterford 1-0 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, to win the Football Association of Ireland Cup. Darragh Burns supplied the second-half winner as Derry claimed the trophy for the seventh time. The forward had joined the club in July and had waited until the final to score his first Derry goal.[1], [2]
Burns told BBC Sport NI that he had seen preparations for substitutions and wanted to contribute before leaving the field. He moved the ball onto his left foot and struck the winning shot. BBC placed the breakthrough in the 69th minute. Burns said finding his first goal for the club in a cup final made the occasion especially memorable.[1]
Captain Michael Duffy has now won the competition five times, twice with Dundalk and three times with his hometown club Derry. He acknowledged a poor opening six months to the season and praised Mark Connolly’s contribution to the recovery. Derry finished fifth in the Premier Division after manager Tiernan Lynch departed in August. The cup win also brought qualification for the 2027-28 Europa League.[1]
